A pair of otters and baby have recently taken up residence in our pond, which is also used by domestic ducks. The hen house is nearby and I am wondering if these animals are just huge weasels? They are beautiful and fun to watch but... Any help would be appreciated. Peg

-- Peg (NW WI) (wildwoodfarms@hushmail.com), July 19, 2000

Answers

Yes, an otter lives to eat. In a couple of months you will not have ducks or fish left. A single otter can clear out a pond, much less a pair with a yearling. You have to decide which you want. As far as I know they are not on any endangered species list. Even if so, around here the philosophy is shoot, shove and shut up.

-- Ken Scharabok (scharabo@aol.com), July 19, 2000.

If they don't they otter...

-- Joe Cole (jcole@apha.com), July 19, 2000.

Peg, Otters may be cute and fun to watch, but trust me, as soon as there is nothing left alive in your pond or surrounding area, they'll be gone. I recommend a Glenfield .22 with a 3-9 power 'scope. Be kind, be accurate. Trust me, there ain't no other solution. Good luck, John

-- John James (jjames@n-jcenter.com), July 19, 2000.

Thanks for the replies. Otters are kind of rare around here and I hate to do anything permanent to them. However, if I can't scare them away with noise or the dogs, I guess I know what I have to do. I have no problem hitting something once I make up my mind it has to go. I don't suppose asking the DNR to trap them would be a smart thing to do. Then they'd just know that we have a problem. And they are BIG. I'd hate to have the dogs tangle with them. (I was referring to the otter but I guess the same applies to the DNR.)Peg

-- Peg (NW WI) (wildwoodfarms@hushmail.com), July 19, 2000.

Why not trap and relocate them? I know that would get the otters votes.

-- kathy h (saddlebronc@msn.com), July 20, 2000.

I consider trapping and relocation about the equivalent of city folks dropping off their unwanted puppies and kittens on my country road. You're just passing the problem on to someone else.

-- Ken Scharabok (scharabo@aol.com), July 20, 2000.

Actually, we have been told that an Indian Reservation about 75 miles from here is trying to reestablish otter on their land and are not only willing to pay $250. per otter but to also supply live traps to trap them. Sounds great to me. Of course, since we heard that we've not seen hide nor hair of an otter!! I'd much rather let them live but agree with Ken about relocation, usually. We have to deal with the nuisance bears that the DNR hauls out by us because we live in the boonies. Peg

-- Peg (NW WI) (wildwoodfarms@hushmail.com), July 20, 2000.

Your otter update reminds me of turkeys on the farm here. You see them just about everywhere, but come the opening day of the turkey hunting season they disappear. They must somehow know.

-- Ken Scharabok (scharabo@aol.com), July 21, 2000.

Peg,I just ran up on your query,and I realize you've probanly already solved your problem,but in case you haven't,in Penna.,the wildlife conservation officer in your area can be called,and he will remove the problem animals,and they are not dumped on some one else,but removed fron the problem area,and away from people.

jim

-- (jimjohnson54@hotmail.com), December 25, 2000.

Live trapping and removing a problem small animal to a remote area causes no problems for anyone.We do it in the summer with raccoons,bc the fur is not prime.Perhaps you don't have remote areas,Ken?I agree that you wouldn't want to be going and dumping them off on somebody else's farm,unless you don't like the farmer much.

In winter,harvest and skin and sell or use the hide.However,otters are being re established in some areas,and would have special regulations. In other areas,they may be listed as furbearers, so check on your season and the situation in your state.

Research done on bear relocation in PA showed the relocated animals often did poorly anyway bc they were in unfamiliar territory and in some other bear's territory and thus were more susceptable to starvation & disease.Just an aside.

Anyway,sounds like you found a great solution.

-- sharon wt (wildflower@ekyol.com), December 25, 2000.

Well, two more times during the summer the otters showed up for a day or two- and there were FOUR of them. But they never bothered the ducks or chickens, just searched for frogs and fish I guess, then they were gone again. I wouldn't relocate them unless it was somewhere they were wanted. One person's remote area may be someone else's back yard (ours for instance). Thanks for the replies- I appreciate the thoughts, and Merry Holidays to you all.

-- Peg (wildwoodfarms@hushmail.com), December 25, 2000.

Peg-just wanted to be clear-when I said remote, I meant no habitation.I can drive abt 6 miles and be where there is nothing but water,cliffs,and trees for miles and miles. That is our release site on the rare occassion we need it.So far only once.

Glad to here you had no further problems.

-- sharon wt (wildflower@ekyol.com), December 25, 2000.