River otter defense?

[d.kaufman]

I’m guessing these bastards are protected, so the three SSS’s apply.

There's a trapping season for them

 

[KJQ6945]

There's a trapping season for them

I’m in the middle of nowhere Texas. If a Squatch walks across my land, we just dig a hole.

 

[indyblue]

I thought I remember in my youth when Eagle Creek had a problem with them and they needed to be culled or relocated.

 

[Mongo59]

I was going to trap them and take them to the state fish hatchery...

 

[yetti462]

I was going to trap them and take them to the state fish hatchery...

Lol

 

[dprimm]

I don't think there are any as far south as Indy (yet). I remember when they were re-introducing them up near Delphi back in the early 80's.

There are otters on my buddy’s place just outside Anderson

 

[xwing]

There's a trapping season for them

So you can trap them (in season)? But can you shoot them?

 

[Hardscrable]

So you can trap them (in season)? But can you shoot them?

A total of 750 statewide may be trapped legally by a legal trapper in season. Only other way to legally “take” an otter is with a nuisance permit from DNR.

 

[Hardscrable]

 

[snapping turtle]

If you want a defense for your area I would say your best option would be a few rat terriers. The otters will find easier living elsewhere.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Again, I will ask... Way back before the otters were "endangered"... like back in the 1700's... What kept them from eating all the fish? Why are they now apparently wiping out fish populations when (presumably) it wasn't a problem before?

 

[Mongo59]

New GMO otters?

 

[Leadeye]

Again, I will ask... Way back before the otters were "endangered"... like back in the 1700's... What kept them from eating all the fish? Why are they now apparently wiping out fish populations when (presumably) it wasn't a problem before?

What sort of critters were around back then that ate otters that are not here today? I have no idea, but usually when populations of critters keep increasing it's because of the removal of a predator and or an increase in food.

You can reintroduce predators, but that is no guarantee they will go after wild animals that are harder to catch than domestic cats and small dogs.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

What sort of critters were around back then that ate otters that are not here today? I have no idea, but usually when populations of critters keep increasing it's because of the removal of a predator and or an increase in food.

You can reintroduce predators, but that is no guarantee they will go after wild animals that are harder to catch than domestic cats and small dogs.

That's what I was thinking. Probably not as many natural predators.

Hey, I have an idea! Lets create a genetically modified piranha that only eats river otters. I mean, what could go wrong?

It's not nice to fool Mother Nature.

 

[2tonic]

....Just because it's smaller than you and looks cute and cuddly doesn't mean it can't tear you to shreds.

 

[DragonGunner]

Again, I will ask... Way back before the otters were "endangered"... like back in the 1700's... What kept them from eating all the fish? Why are they now apparently wiping out fish populations when (presumably) it wasn't a problem before?

I had an answer on post 32, quoting you but for some reason I can’t edit it, and I’m not sure another post I had on here showed up either.

 

[Flingarrows]

I hunt down in Golconda Illinois, across from Paducah KY. There are otters down there in Lusk Creek backwaters

 

[armalitesheepdog]

Hell, Id'a bit it, too.

He did pick a good one....lol

 

[two70]

I don't think there are any as far south as Indy (yet). I remember when they were re-introducing them up near Delphi back in the early 80's.

They started out well south of Indy and have been expanding for decades. Many of the initial re-stockings were in the southern half of the state, Patoka in particular was a major re-stocking location.

 

[two70]

Again, I will ask... Way back before the otters were "endangered"... like back in the 1700's... What kept them from eating all the fish? Why are they now apparently wiping out fish populations when (presumably) it wasn't a problem before?

A few reasons come to mind in addition to Leadeye's excellent point about the lack of predators to control the otters. First, in the 1700s the fish were used to dealing with otter predation. Now, otters are basically brand new predators on the scene.

Second, and more likely IMO, the fish and otters were and are likely in a boom-bust cycle like many predator/prey relationships. The otters will basically eat fish until there are no longer enough fish to support the otter population, at which point it will crash and the fish will return.

Third, stocked ponds weren't nearly as prevalent in the 1700s. Ponds are both easy feeding for the otters and easy to observe the predation in due to their relatively small size and fish populations.