Otter Problem.. what do I do? 2024
flg2010 reply :
I live right next to a fishing park on the WallKill River in NY. I also have about 120 feet of riverfront on my property that I can fish from or launch a canoe from.
The WallKill river has serious issues due to farm runoff in my area and after buying my home I realized I could still catch some decent Smallmouth and catfish. Totally catch and release.
This year I see a problem. Both in my back yard and in the park there are numerous River Otters. I have seen them eating fish, they have also snagged food off my food bag a few times when it was open. The problem is I didn't see them here a year ago when I moved in and there seems to be less fish.
What can be done to protect the fish population? Is there a NY DEC program that might relocate them or will I be forced to watch them destroy bass fishing?
RoLo reply :
In most cases, no management is the best management because 'man' is the spoiler, not Mother Nature.
Having otters is a natural indication of a good fish supply.
If the fish population became depleted, the otters would have no choice but to move on.
Simply put, a high otter population indicates a high fish population.
On a low note though, the problem with the Wallkill River is not the fish population but the health of the fish.
By all accounts, the Wallkill is sky high in phosphorus as well as fecal coliform, which are both man-induced.
One can only feel sorry for the otters.
Roger
CTBassin860 reply :
Hand feed them the fish you catch to befriend them, then you can have them attack anyone fishing your spot due to their loyalty to you.
Turkey sandwich reply :
On 5/16/2017 at 2:13 AM, RoLo said:
In most cases, no management is the best management because 'man' is the spoiler, not Mother Nature.
Having otters is a natural indication of a good fish supply.
If the fish population became depleted, the otters would have no choice but to move on.
Simply put, a high otter population indicates a high fish population.
On a low note though, the problem with the Wallkill River is not the fish population but the health of the fish.
By all accounts, the Wallkill is sky high in phosphorus as well as fecal coliform, which are both man-induced.
One can only feel sorry for the otters.
Roger
This.
Farms cause more problems than almost anything. If you combine the pesticides and fertilizer from farms with dams, you're asking for nightmare with blooms and hormone rich silt that does everything from killing off aquatic insect larvae/prevent insect reproduction to causing cancer in fish.
Otters, however, are a rarely a bad thing. And they're adorable.
flg2010 reply :
Well I'm more afraid of them I think then anything.. I have started to keep my lunch on me when I fish from shore.. I move a around a lot and sometimes can be 300 feet from where I started so I can't leave my stuff unattended. I did and paid the price, had to go hungry because they touched my lunch.
When I first saw them I was startled.. came right out of the water in front of me and spooked me. They seem aggressive.
The Wallkill has issues, last year the smell was so bad in my back yard I thought I had a septic issue and found out later it was the Oder from the river.
This last weekend people were catching big catfish but the bass seemed gone...
chadmack282 reply :
r they building dams?
RoLo reply :
On 5/16/2017 at 5:49 AM, chadmack282 said:they building dams?
I'm not aware of otters building a first-generation dam.
Crafty devils that they are, they will occupy an abandoned beaver dam 
Roger
david in va reply :
On 5/16/2017 at 5:49 AM, chadmack282 said:r they building dams?
I think he meant farmers not otters lol
RoLo reply :
On 5/16/2017 at 3:55 AM, flg2010 said:Well I'm more afraid of them I think then anything.. I have started to keep my lunch on me when I fish from shore.. I move a around a lot and sometimes can be 300 feet from where I started so I can't leave my stuff unattended. I did and paid the price, had to go hungry because they touched my lunch.
When I first saw them I was startled.. came right out of the water in front of me and spooked me. They seem aggressive.
The Wallkill has issues, last year the smell was so bad in my back yard I thought I had a septic issue and found out later it was the Oder from the river.
This last weekend people were catching big catfish but the bass seemed gone...
You're afraid of river otters?
Hmm, I'm more afraid of the postman 
Darren. reply :
River otters, while cute and precocious, are still
wild animals and should be respected as such.
Doesn't mean you can't befriend them I would
try if I lived on water they occupied.
Agree with the others, they're a great sign. Hope
they don't become beasts with all the hormones
and such leaking in from the farm!! Then you should
run.
CTBassin860 reply :
The otter corps of engineers
RoLo reply :
On 5/16/2017 at 6:02 AM, david in va said:I think he meant farmers not otters lol
So now we have farmers building dams
and river otters terrorizing fishermen.
Rough Neighborhood 
Roger
Subaqua Adinterim reply :
As stated above, you can't mess with Mother Nature; especially in NY. A number of years ago, the cormorants were putting a real dent in the fish population near Galoo Island (on which they also killed every bit of trees and vegetation) on Lake Ontario. Some fishermen took matters into their own hands and killed a number of these cormorants. As hated as cormorants were/are, the NYS DEC still found those guys and prosecuted them.
You can only imagine what would happen if you messed with otters, which people like.
There are all sorts of other critters competing with us - mergansers, cormorants, loons, etc.; we just need to accept their presence.
frogflogger reply :
I figure any critter out there has as much right as I do to fish or hunt or whatever - folks can get crazy. We've had guys shooting canadian geese and leaving them to rot because they pooped on their river bank.
I did have an otter strip a trotline of mine one time - gave me a chuckle.
geo g reply :
Enjoy mother nature in her purest sense. These are marvelous creatures and highly intelligent. You are lucky to have them in the neighborhood.
.
RoLo reply :
On 5/16/2017 at 8:48 AM, geo g said:Enjoy mother nature in her purest sense. These are marvelous creatures and highly intelligent. You are lucky to have them in the neighborhood.
.
I used to see otters quite regularly on Lake Tohopekaliga, FL, but haven't seen one in many years.
Differently put, I'm envious of the OP and would happily share my lunch with his otters.
Roger
UPSmallie reply :
Hire someone to trap them on your property. Them, muskrats, and beavers all contribute to erosion. We've hired a local trapper in the past and he has cleared out numerous beavers and dozens of muskrat. If you can see one, then there are over a dozen close by that you aren't seeing.
flg2010 reply :
On 5/16/2017 at 7:35 AM, RichPenNY said:As stated above, you can't mess with Mother Nature; especially in NY. A number of years ago, the cormorants were putting a real dent in the fish population near Galoo Island (on which they also killed every bit of trees and vegetation) on Lake Ontario. Some fishermen took matters into their own hands and killed a number of these cormorants. As hated as cormorants were/are, the NYS DEC still found those guys and prosecuted them.
You can only imagine what would happen if you messed with otters, which people like.
There are all sorts of other critters competing with us - mergansers, cormorants, loons, etc.; we just need to accept their presence.
I would never harm or interfere with a river otter. However I do fear them since they are quick, wild, and could be full all sorts of pathogens. In addition they seem to eat a ton of fish. Well, no one ever said fishing was easy LOL..
Raul reply :
Hmmm, now blaming the otters for not catching fish ....... that's a new one.
NCbassraider reply :
River otters are cute too look at but that is where it ends. They can decimate fish population in smaller bodies of water very quickly. I recently had some invade my 8 acre pond using a newly created beaver pond (another issue) on my property to travel from a near by river.
They can be up to 30 lbs and eat half they're body weight in fish each day. They prefer larger fish and can easily catch any size bass. They got into my pond and wouldn't leave so I hired a trapper to get rid of them. I had a mating pair and 2 pups that went through my larger bass in a matter of weeks. During the recent spawn and throughout pre-spawn fishing I have noticed a drop in the number of large bass throughout the pond.
In NC they cannot be relocated as they are considered a possibly rabies carrier so trappers must destroy them. They are also not to be messed with. A large otter will stand and fight a single coyote. They are fierce.
Rivers and large lakes is where they belong. Your post seems to read that your otters are in a river system but if they find a small lake or pond, they will continue to return until the fish are gone. Small bodies of water are a canned hunt for them and they like easy meals.
I felt bad trapping them but they had to go.
flg2010 reply :
On 5/16/2017 at 11:18 AM, NCbassraider said:River otters are cute too look at but that is where it ends. They can decimate fish population in smaller bodies of water very quickly. I recently had some invade my 8 acre pond using a newly created beaver pond (another issue) on my property to travel from a near by river.
They can be up to 30 lbs and eat half they're body weight in fish each day. They prefer larger fish and can easily catch any size bass. They got into my pond and wouldn't leave so I hired a trapper to get rid of them. I had a mating pair and 2 pups that went through my larger bass in a matter of weeks. During the recent spawn and throughout pre-spawn fishing I have noticed a drop in the number of large bass throughout the pond.
In NC they cannot be relocated as they are considered a possibly rabies carrier so trappers must destroy them. They are also not to be messed with. A large otter will stand and fight a single coyote. They are fierce.
Rivers and large lakes is where they belong. Your post seems to read that your otters are in a river system but if they find a small lake or pond, they will continue to return until the fish are gone. Small bodies of water are a canned hunt for them and they like easy meals.
I felt bad trapping them but they had to go.
This makes me feel sick... and they are protected in my neck of the woods so basiclly one more reason not to fish in my back yard.. potential rabid crazy animals...
i need a new fishing spot
Darren. reply :
On 5/16/2017 at 11:22 AM, flg2010 said:
This makes me feel sick... and they are protected in my neck of the woods so basiclly one more reason not to fish in my back yard.. potential rabid crazy animals...
i need a new fishing spot
I'd suggest you contact your local wildlife/animal control
department and ask what to do. Honestly, if you "feel sick"
about it, don't let the situation linger. Get advice from them
and perhaps locals in your area. Maybe you can arrive at a
solution that lets the critters live...but if not, then so be it.
NCbassraider reply :
Most states allow trapping permits for nuisance animals. For instance, we are out of season here for trapping muskrats but because they are burrowing in my damns and threatening the property, we have permission to trap still. They do the same for beaver and otters here also.
SuperCorona reply :
On 5/16/2017 at 11:18 AM, NCbassraider said:River otters are cute too look at but that is where it ends. They can decimate fish population in smaller bodies of water very quickly. I recently had some invade my 8 acre pond using a newly created beaver pond (another issue) on my property to travel from a near by river.
They can be up to 30 lbs and eat half they're body weight in fish each day. They prefer larger fish and can easily catch any size bass. They got into my pond and wouldn't leave so I hired a trapper to get rid of them. I had a mating pair and 2 pups that went through my larger bass in a matter of weeks. During the recent spawn and throughout pre-spawn fishing I have noticed a drop in the number of large bass throughout the pond.
In NC they cannot be relocated as they are considered a possibly rabies carrier so trappers must destroy them. They are also not to be messed with. A large otter will stand and fight a single coyote. They are fierce.
Rivers and large lakes is where they belong. Your post seems to read that your otters are in a river system but if they find a small lake or pond, they will continue to return until the fish are gone. Small bodies of water are a canned hunt for them and they like easy meals.
I felt bad trapping them but they had to go.
^^So true^^
My sister-in-law had a great pond full of huge bream. A few otters got in there and cleaned it out. They vanished when there was nothing left to eat. She has since restocked the bream and with the help of the Ogeechee River flooding, there are some nice bass and catfish in there now. While we were there a month ago, I saw an otter cross the driveway from the pond heading into the woods. We set some traps the next morning and caught 2. I took a .22 rifle along while fishing and shot one on the opposite bank from me a couple days later. She hasn't seen any since.
Koz reply :
Simple solution:
http://www.montanaoutdoor.com/2015/02/tantalize-your-tastebuds-with-a-river-otter-recipe/
BassWhole! reply :
http://www.cafepress.com/+river_otter_recipes_journal,1189236356
Or I have an Andean crispy fried guinea pig recipe that you can adapt...
TnRiver46 reply :
On 5/16/2017 at 10:58 AM, Raul said:Hmmm, now blaming the otters for not catching fish ....... that's a new one.
Surely you jest...... everyone around here blames the otters. They reintroduced them in the early 90s and they are everywhere now. I deal with nuisance animals for a living and we get calls about them cleaning out koi ponds. 330 conibear is the way to deal with an otter, they can fetch decent coin for the fur too. That being said I would only trap them if they are truly causing problems or trap them in winter for the pelt. Like several folks already posted, they can't kill all the fish in large watershed but they can do damage on a small one. The best smallmouth rivers near my house are loaded with otters and have been for years. These rivers still produce lots of big fish, it is rare not to see 4+ Otters in the middle of the day at the prime honey holes
Dwight Hottle reply :
Before you consider any recipes you need to grab one by the ear and put it in a sleeper hold.
NCbassraider reply :
On 11/4/2017 at 6:59 AM, Dwight Hottle said:Before you consider any recipes you need to grab one by the ear and put it in a sleeper hold.
That's a big boy there. Gotta be over 30lbs, right? Just think, they eat half their body weight/day so if you have a mating pair with a few pups in a pond it won't take long for them to clean it out.
TnRiver46 reply :
On 11/4/2017 at 6:59 AM, Dwight Hottle said:Before you consider any recipes you need to grab one by the ear and put it in a sleeper hold.
Nice one!!!!! You better pack 2 lunches if you plan on wrestling one of them
Gundog reply :
On 11/4/2017 at 6:59 AM, Dwight Hottle said:Before you consider any recipes you need to grab one by the ear and put it in a sleeper hold.
Vulcan death grip?
N Florida Mike reply :
I would never feel sorry for otters. They are gluttons. They will kill fish just for the sport of it ,eat a couple mouthfuls and move on to another fish. They cleaned out my whole lake of catfish. Its legal to hunt them in florida, at certain times of year. I could not figure out why I couldnt catch any cats, until I saw the otter.They did not seem to hurt the bass or bream pop. though. I got up early several days in a row to hunt the one I was seeing. Got him in my sight one morning with my .410. Fixing to pull the trigger and my wife hollered dont shoot it. He went under and after that was much craftier. I tried trapping it with no success, then finally prayed about it. Havent seen one since !!????
we do have nutria rats, which are eating my grass on the lakebank. But they are easy to trap and dont eat fish.
J._Bricker reply :
Otters? I’d gladly swap you the sea lions that inhabit the California Delta and feed on bass and other fish species year round. The otters out here feed HEAVILY on crawdads, which is pretty evident by the scat left on docks. But hey, I guess we should be happy there’s still fish to catch. Continued good fishing all, JB
WRB reply :
On 11/5/2017 at 12:08 AM, J._Bricker said:Otters? I’d gladly swap you the sea lions that inhabit the California Delta and feed on bass and other fish species year round. The otters out here feed HEAVILY on crawdads, which is pretty evident by the scat left on docks. But hey, I guess we should be happy there’s still fish to catch. Continued good fishing all, JB
The Pacific sea otter is a shell fish eater, the river otters are fish eaters. The California Sea Lion, not the harbor seal, is a protected animal, weighs between 500-800 lbs and eats fish. Sea lions destroy fish populations especially salmon. Anglers are regulated, sea lions are protected.
My grandmother had a pet river otter until it drowned her dog.
Tom
burrows reply :
On 11/5/2017 at 1:17 AM, WRB said:The Pacific sea otter is a shell fish eater, the river otters are fish eaters. The California Sea Lion, not the harbor seal, is a protected animal, weighs between 500-800 lbs and eats fish. Sea lions destroy fish populations especially salmon. Anglers are regulated, sea lions are protected.
My grandmother had a pet river otter until it drowned her dog.
Tom
What happened after it killed the dog?
WRB reply :
On 11/5/2017 at 1:24 AM, Burro said:What happened after it killed the dog?
It dissapeared!
Tom
Gundog reply :
On 11/5/2017 at 1:34 AM, WRB said:It dissapeared!
Tom
Mafia hit? Did El Chapo get him? A single shot from the grassy knoll? Alien abduction?
WRB reply :
On 11/5/2017 at 10:16 AM, Gundog said:Mafia hit? Did El Chapo get him? A single shot from the grassy knoll? Alien abduction?
I was about 6 years old when grams otter disappeared. I was told the otter drowned Legit the dog and not to ask what happened to Sammy the otter.
Tom
clh121787 reply :
I've witnessed first hand otters ruining good bite. I fish a heated reservoir. When they run the pumps from a neighboring lake that shares the dam. fish move in by the thousands to get in that cooler oxygenated water. 2 guides and i were fishing it catching fish for a few hours hundreds. Several otter moved into the area and the bite came to a halt.
Gundog reply :
On 11/5/2017 at 10:27 AM, WRB said:I was about 6 years old when grams otter disappeared. I was told the otter drowned Legit the dog and not to ask what happened to Sammy the otter.
Tom
Awwww....definitely a mafia hit ;). Got ya. Nobody ask any questions and nobody gets hurt. Except the otter. Legit the dog was probably a made man. You can't just kill a made man and get away with it. A message had to be sent.
soflabasser reply :
Make Youtube videos of the otters you see since their are people who like seeing videos of them.
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