INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — Lynnette Bellin thought she was beginning to recover after a frightening encounter with a wild otter in Lake Tahoe. Instead, the Reno-area swim instructor found herself back in the hospital after a serious infection developed in her injured hand.
Bellin, who was attacked while swimming near Hidden Beach on Aug. 30, shared an update from the hospital Sunday, saying her recovery had taken an unexpected turn.
“Things have taken a bit of a turn since I did my little media tour about the otter attack,” Bellin said in an Instagram update.
The setback began Thursday night when Bellin was sitting at her computer trying to type. She noticed that her left hand was not functioning normally and became concerned that something might be wrong.
At first, she wondered whether the otter had caused a broken bone during the attack.
She went to an orthopedic urgent care center, where doctors performed X-rays. The scans showed no broken bones, but doctors discovered an infection involving a ligament in her pinky.
Bellin was admitted to the hospital that same night.
Emergency Surgery Needed After Infection
Bellin said she has been receiving IV antibiotics since Thursday night as doctors work to control the infection. She underwent surgery Friday morning. During the procedure, a surgeon opened the injured pinky and flushed the area with saline.
“There was an infection in there,” Bellin said.
She remained hospitalized Sunday while waiting for an infectious disease specialist to determine the next stage of her treatment. nBellin also pointed out the unusual nature of her antibiotic treatment, saying she is currently receiving medication considered appropriate for otter bites.
“Interestingly, I’m currently on the best antibiotics for otter bites because who knew those were dirty little buggers, right?” she said.
The infection has added another challenge to a recovery that was already difficult.
Bellin Warned She May Not Fully Recover Finger Function
The latest development has left Bellin uncertain about how much movement she will ultimately regain in her injured hand.
She is working with an occupational therapist to improve mobility in her hand and foot, but doctors have warned her that the damage could have lasting effects.
“Unfortunately, the infectious disease doctor said I might not regain full function in my poor little sad pinky,” Bellin said.
Despite the warning, Bellin remains focused on rehabilitation. She said she needs her hands to return to her work as a swim instructor and is determined to keep exercising the injured area.
“I am just working the heck out of my occupational therapy because I have some students that I need to get back to you in the water and I need these hands,” she said.
Wild Otter Attacked Bellin While She Was Swimming
The infection comes only days after Bellin publicly described the original attack, which left her with 38 stitches and a series of rabies shots.
She had been swimming near Hidden Beach in Incline Village at about 8 a.m. Aug. 30 and had already been in the water for roughly 30 minutes when she felt something grab her leg.
At first, she thought another person had approached her.
“I thought it was a person until I saw the otter, and then it kept coming at me with teeth and claws,” Bellin said.
She tried to push the animal away, but said the otter continued attacking.
“I swear it was a 5-minute attack! I was yelling and pushing and it just kept coming for me,” she said.
Bellin eventually climbed onto a rock, but the animal continued following her. She later managed to reach a larger rock, escape the immediate area, climb a fence and walk barefoot along the East Shore Bike Trail.
Wildlife Officials Continue to Warn About Otter Encounters
Bellin has spent more than two decades swimming in Lake Tahoe, making the incident particularly upsetting because swimming there has long been one of her favorite activities.
“The saddest part of this is swimming in Tahoe is my favorite thing to do that brings me so much peace. And now I’m afraid to get back in,” she previously said.
Wildlife officials have said attacks involving otters and humans are uncommon. The Nevada Department of Wildlife searched for the animal after Bellin’s attack but was unable to locate it.
Officials have explained that otters generally avoid people but can become defensive when they feel threatened or cornered, or when protecting pups or defending territory.
For now, Bellin remains focused on healing and regaining as much movement as possible.
Her latest hospitalization marks another difficult chapter in the aftermath of an attack that began with a rare encounter in the waters of Lake Tahoe.
What do you think about Bellin’s recovery after the unusual otter attack? Share your thoughts and well wishes in the comments.
