ISR Reno Tahoe

09/02/2026

My nurse in the Emergency Room reminded me of this scene from Zootopia, and I just can’t help but laugh! Maybe it was Manchas that I encountered in Lake Tahoe!

09/02/2026

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone that has reached out and embraced me with love after the otter attack! Reno Tahoe is such a special community, and I feel so embraced and supported.

The question everyone keeps asking me is, “Are you ok?!” And I’m not sure how to answer. I guess?! I was attacked by a wild otter and I totally lost that fight. I am scratched and bruised with 38 stitches. My right foot has 22 stitches and is very swollen and painful, so I can’t really walk. I am sad that I can’t be teaching my ISR Self-Rescue students, and can’t do any of the activities I love, including swimming, yoga, dog walks and Orange Theory.

I am focusing on gratitude. I am grateful for each and everyone that has checked in with me. For people donating to a Go Fund Me to help cover the medical expenses and the forced time off work. I’m grateful that these are all surface wounds that will heal, though I think I will have some pretty interesting scars! I’m taking this unexpected down time to be with family, friends and my dogs.

Thank you all. Your support means more than you know. I’m OK - ish!

09/01/2026

My kids are annoyed that I've taken over their feeds as the Otter Lady, lol. But in all seriousness, I have been frustrated that the main message I wanted to convey in these media interviews has been completely left out of the final stories.

That message is that swimming is a critical life skill that everyone should know. The world is covered in 70% water. The water can be unpredictable and unforgiving. Being a competent swimmer is what saved me in this situation, as I didn't have to think about my breath control or how to move in the water - it is second nature to me.

If you're not a strong swimmer, I encourage you to make it a priority. And the biggest gift you can give to your child is learning to be confident and competent in the water from a very young age, giving the ample opportunities to practice. It is a gift that could one day save their life.

I'm living proof of that. Thanks, Mom and Dad!

08/31/2026

It was an interesting weekend to say the least!

Swimming instructor Lynnette Bellin of Reno got 22 stitches after a river otter attacked her in Lake Tahoe. She's now undergoing rabies treatment. See link below ⬇️

📸 Provided to RGJ by Lynnette Bellin

Full story here: bit.ly/4x3yTXw

08/31/2026

Swimming in Lake Tahoe is my absolute favorite thing to do. It is my peace and my sanctuary. I feel like that was robbed from me after the otter attack.

I used to say one of the best things about swimming in Tahoe was you didn’t have to worry about creatures attacking you. Until yesterday, all I ever saw were minnows and the occasional crawdad.

I was swimming peacefully and then felt something grab my leg. It was so forceful I thought it was a human! But then I turned around to see the otter and I was in a fight for my life with teeth and claws coming for me over and over.

I’m sure once I’m healed I will face my fears and return to my favorite place. Perhaps I will just pick different beaches to swim at!

08/31/2026

I was in so much shock that an otter attacked me that I had to document my reaction! It evidently ripped my cap, as my hair was poking out!

According to Google, there have been 59 otter attacks since 1875. So I guess I’m lucky 60! Do I get a shirt?!

08/30/2026

I am writing this post from the emergency room. I was out for a swim along the East Shore of Lake Tahoe and got attacked by a wild otter.

I had been swimming about 30 minutes when I felt something grab my leg. I thought it was a person until I saw the otter, and then it kept coming at me with teeth and claws. I tried to push it away but this thing was relentless.

I made my way to a rock and it climbed up on the rock and kept attacking me. I swear it was a 5 minute attack! I was yelling and pushing and it just kept coming for me.

I finally climbed up on a bigger rock and got away from it, but it kept circling the area, so I knew I couldn’t get back in the water. I climbed over rocks and the fence to the East Shore Bike Trail then walked barefoot back, freaking out everyone I passed. A biker called authorities and next thing I knew I had three sherifs, rangers and the fire department.

I think I need stitches and a rabies shot. A Game Warden came to my house to file a report and they have people out on boats looking for it with plans to trap it.

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.

No one that responded today had heard of an otter attack in Tahoe. So I guess I won the otter lottery?!

08/30/2026

I have been helping a very slender 14 year old girl prepare for her swim test to be on rowing team this month.

Although her swimming, treading water and floating were all solid in the pool, once we took those skills into the cold water of Lake Tahoe, it was a whole different situation.

It became much more of a mental exercise in teaching her how to combat the fight or flight response the cold water does to the body. We worked a lot on using breath to calm her mind and her body, and being really careful to focus on what you want your body to do instead of how uncomfortable you are or how scared you might be.

If you have a child that doesn’t have much body fat, be aware that this can significantly impact their swimming skills in cold water. I encourage you to have them get in the lake, practice their skills of treading water, floating and swimming so that they know what it feels like in case of an accidental submersions.

Have you had challenges swimming or floating in one of our alpine lakes in the Reno Tahoe area? Let me know what it was like for you in the comments!

Although I mostly teach Infant Swimming Resource Self-Rescue lessons to ages 6 months to 6 years in Reno and Incline Village, sometimes I teach tweens, teens and adults if we can get our schedules to align!

Laketahoe