Otters

[Morning Wood]

A buddy and I discovered an otter in his duck hole last year. This year there was an adult and 2 young. While the adult is reclusive, one of the young ones was playful and actually brushed up against his leg under water ( he later had to clean his waders -- inside not out)
The hole is about a 4 acre pothole where beavers have damned up a draw in an area that is ridges and ditches. the sides are surrounded by elbow bushes and then a 5-10 yard treeline. at one end there is a long ditch that connects with catfish ponds nearby and a nearby bayou connects with a delta river and it and the bayou have water year round.
I've seen an otter on the river but never on the protected side of the levee. how common are they and how protected? i assume they are a protected species, but will the feds show up and cause a stink affecting his duckhole if word gets out? he would like to tell the other guy who hunts there so that the otter doesnt get shot by looking like a beaver. the landowner has agreed to quit removing the beaver damn every year but is also worried about interference by gov't with his farming operation. any advice?
Second question: any info on otter/canine interaction? the dogs REALLY wanted to check out the otters. i would guess an otter would tear up a dog in the water (3-4 feet deep).

[Wingman]

Otters are common, but rarely seen. I usually catch them in beaver traps, as they frequent beaver ponds and sloughs. I wouldn't worry about govt. interaction, otters aren't on the endangered list. They do eat fish and snakes, though, so nice to have them around a snaky spot. As for your dog vs. the otter...keep your dog away from them unless you know how to sew.

Wingman

[mississippi_duc_htr]

Yep wingmans is right. I have caught 2 in leg hold traps on creeks when I used to trap. The biggest one was 34 1/2 inches from nose to tail. Both of them tried to eat me up as soon as they saw me comming. They didnt hesitate a bit, came at me hissing and sort of growling, good thing they were caught solid. I dont think either of them would have hesitated to jump on me had they pulled free. Now REMEMBER they were caught in a leg hold trap and were really pissed off.
I had one come up a ditch in the middle of a grass field last year look me over and went on up the creek. He sure was beautiful out there and I let him go. I dont think they will attack anyone unless provolked. Usually a very shy critter.
I am pretty sure he's also right about the dog issue. In my opinon (and yes I have hunted and trapped them too) a coon hasn't got anything on an otter. Better be prepared to sew!!!!!

ps Tell you huntin buddy to carry a spare on the toilet paper if you going to hunt there

[ January 07, 2002: Message edited by: mississippi_duc_htr ]
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[ January 07, 2002: Message edited by: mississippi_duc_htr ]

[laduck]

They are fairly common in the marsh. They are very pretty animals, but vicious. For their size, they can hang with any animal around. You and your dog had best leave them alone. The wingman is correct. Jack

Shoot them sprigs on their first pass!

[GulfCoast]

Sea otters down here are fearless and will snag a down duck in a heartbeat, and shishkabob yer lab. There is one bayou where we don't take dogs, even when it is cold and gators long gone, due to "Ivan the otter."