Warning: Graphic content, readers’ discretion advised
BOZEMAN, MONTANA: Jen Royce lost a part of her ear and found herself covered in cuts after being viciously mauled by an otter while tubing down a Montana river on August 4.
Royce and two friends were celebrating her birthday while enjoying floating down a wide stretch of the Jefferson River near Bozeman when the otter attacked them just after 8 pm.
"I saw one otter right behind my friend before it attacked. I didn’t even have a chance to get the words ‘there is an otter behind you’ out of me before it attacked her," said Royce describing the attack in a Facebook post, in which she attached pictures of her horrific injuries, as reported by the New York Post.
She added that the animal appeared "vicious and relentless" as it dashed at her before stating, "It bit my face in several places, both of my ears, my arms, my hands, my legs, my thighs, and my ankle. My friends were bit on their hands and on their bottoms. One friend’s thumb was SHREDDED and she has bite marks all over her body as well."
Who is Jen Royce?
Royce’s Facebook reveals her to be a mother of three, residing in Bozeman, Montana.
She recounted being in a deep section of the river at the time of the otter attack, which made it difficult for them to protect themselves. "The water was definitely where they excelled in their attack and we were helpless. I tried to kick it away but I would just get attacked somewhere else," wrote Royce.
"I tried to hold it back at one point by grabbing its arm to hold it away while trying to swim closer to shore. Once I had my feet under me I was able to fight back better and was eventually able to pull myself out of the river. It swam away after that," continued the victim.
After the attack ended, the three friends discovered that they had separated. A friend ended up on one side of the river bank, another on the other, and the third got stuck on a rock in the middle of the river.
The three agreed to stay put and call each other across the water while hurling stones into the river to protect themselves from further attack since they feared that the otter might return.
Thankfully, one of the friends was able to keep hold of their phone and call for assistance using the SOS function. However, because of the group's obscure position, dispatchers found it challenging to decide where to deploy rescue teams.
Royce continued, "I was covered in blood and it just kept pouring out from my face and nose. It was cold. We were wet. It was dark. We had no real ‘good’ visual of each other due to distance. All we could do was scream and call out to one another. To anyone. But we were just so d–n far away."
How were Jen Royce and her friends saved from a vicious otter attack?
After less than an hour of beseeching for help, Royce and her friend finally noticed approaching siren lights. "I was extremely faint and I honestly didn’t know what was happening to my body. With all my heart I did not think I was not going to wake up if I closed my eyes and passed out," she noted in her Facebook post.
Soon Royce was airlifted to the emergency room, where she underwent urgent surgery. "I have more stitches in my body than I can count," wrote the victim, recounting a long list of injuries she sustained during the attack.
"I have lost almost half of my right ear. But I am lucky, and I am grateful, and I am alive," added Royce.
Ever since the vicious attack, she has kept her friends and family updated via her Facebook account, expressing gratitude toward them for supporting her and her family during the tough time.
One of the friends has also launched a GoFundMe campaign, which has already raised $7,662 of the $12,000 goal.
