A Washington port will pay a whopping $350,000 settlement to the family of a two-year-old who was viciously attacked by a river otter and dragged into the water.
Travyn Schiffner filed a lawsuit accusing Port of Bremerton of gross negligence after the animal dragged her daughter into Bremerton Marina in 2024.
The town settled on April 14, but did not take on any fault or further liability, according to Kitsap County court documents reviewed by the Seattle Times.
A representative for the port told the Daily Mail the settlement agreement was ‘a compromise of disputed and uncertain claims.’
Attorney Christopher Froines, who represented the family, said the Schiffner family was relieved to be through with the ordeal.
‘They’re happy to have it resolved,’ he told the Times.
Most of the money will be paid to the victim and her siblings. Remaining balances will go to medical bills, administrative costs and Schiffner.
The attack was captured in horrifying surveillance footage on September 12 at 8am as the family was on their way to school from their sailboat home.
A rogue otter reportedly followed and attacked a Washington family, prompting a lawsuit that ended in a $350,000 settlement
Travyn Schiffner, pictured with her husband Eric, filed the lawsuit against Port of Bremerton
Christopher Froines, the family’s attorney, said they are ‘relieved’ the situation is over with
The unsuspecting mother and her children walked down the dock as the otter began chasing after them.
According to filings reviewed by King5, the family ‘never saw the otter before it attacked the youngest child and pulled her underwater.’
The rabid animal scratched and bit the little girl on the face, head and legs, court documents alleged.
The otter dragged her into the marina, the filing says, where she remained for a few moments before resurfacing.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) officials reported that the otter continued to attack the panicked mother as she grabbed her daughter from the water.
‘The child’s mother was able to lift the child out of the water while the otter continued to attack and was subsequently bit in the arm,’ read a statement on their website.
According to the family, the otter continued to chase them down the dock as they hurried away.
The little girl was taken to Silverdale hospital following the horrifying attack, reported KOMO News.
The otter followed and attacked Travyn Schiffner and her 2-year-old daughter in September 2024
Otter attacks are rare in Washington with only a half dozen reported in the last decade (stock image)
Schiffner alleged that doctors had to administer a rabies vaccine for her daughter, court documents reviewed by KOIN revealed.
The little girl allegedly continued to face ‘nightmares and behavioral aggression’ following the attack.
The US Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services trapped and lethally removed the otter. It tested negative for rabies.
At the time, WDFW Sergeant Ken Balzas expressed gratitude that the child and her mother sustained ‘minor injuries.’
‘We are grateful the victim only sustained minor injuries, due to the mother’s quick actions and child’s resiliency,’ he said.
‘We would also like to thank the Port of Bremerton for their quick coordination and communication with their marina tenant.’
While river otters are common in Washington, attacks on humans are rare, with only a half dozen reported in the last decade.
However, residents of Port of Bremerton had flagged an otter infestation almost a year before the recent attack, per the Kitsap Sun.
The Bremerton Marina Tenants group described boats in the area as ‘otter-infested and foul.’
In the lawsuit, Schiffner claimed the port failed to address the otter infestation at the marina despite being alerted of the issue multiple times by residents.
It was later captured and lethally removed by the US Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services
The Bremerton Marina Tenants previously brought issues with an ‘otter infestation’ to Port of Bremerton officials
‘Prior to the attack, the Port of Bremerton had actual and repeated notice of otter activity on and around E Dock and had received complaints about their aggressive nature,’ it alleged.
‘Tenants and staff had lodged multiple complaints with the Port about aggressive otter behavior, including otters defecating on docks, damaging marina property, living on several abandoned or derelict boats, being aggressive toward marina tenants and posing a risk to public safety.’
It is unclear if Port of Bremerton officials have updated policies and systems regarding wildlife in the marina.
A spokesperson told the Daily Mail that the attack was ‘a very unfortunate accident.’
‘Our thoughts are with the family — it is difficult to imagine what they experienced,’ read their statement.
‘We encourage everyone visiting the marina, or any area where people and wildlife coexist, to remain aware of their surroundings, as wildlife behavior can be unpredictable when being approached.’
The Daily Mail contacted Schiffner, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Department and Froines for comment.