A swimmer at Lake Tahoe in Nevada was bitten by a river otter and required 38 stitches and rabies shots, according to local media reports. Lynnette Bellin from Reno was swimming near Hidden Beach on the Nevada side of the lake on Sunday when she was attacked by the animal. Bellin described the encounter to KCRA3 television news station as sudden and intense. "I just felt something grab me by my leg and pull me under. And it was so powerful. It felt like it was a human," she said. "This otter just started coming after me, teeth and claws, and my only thought was like, I got to get away from this. But it kept following me." Bellin said the otter repeatedly attacked her feet as she tried to swim away. Eventually, she managed to climb out of the lake onto rocks and reach a nearby hiking trail. First responders then transported her to a hospital for treatment. River otter attacks on humans are extremely rare, but wildlife officials often remind people to keep their distance from wild animals, especially during late summer when otters may be protecting their young. "It’s very rare for us to see something like this," said Kenzie Margiott, a spokesperson for the Nevada Department of Wildlife, speaking to KCRA3. This is the second reported otter attack at Lake Tahoe in a month. Earlier in August, a man was bitten by an otter on the California side of the lake near Pope Beach. That swimmer also ended up in the hospital with eight bite wounds. Lake Tahoe is a popular tourist destination known for its clear waters and scenic beauty. While otters are common in the area, such aggressive encounters are unusual and serve as a reminder to visitors to remain cautious when encountering wildlife.