Otters

My pond catfish have disappeared. Had dozens and dozens. Over time they have gone away. Last evening the feeding totaled one catfish. Per the fishing forum, I probably have one or more otters that ate my catfish. What do I look for regarding Otter sign? What’s the best way to get rid of them. The wife loved her catfish. Now she’s mad and has put out a contract. Of course I’m the contractor and have no idea how best to go about this. Hep me, hep me.

Entry or exit, slide or tracks, marks at the waters edge. Call your Govt trapper. County agent should have his number. Talked to our trapper last week, depending on where you are, could be the same guy.

Great suggestion. Thanks much. I hadn’t even known there was a gov’t trapper.

It's pretty amazing what an effect a couple otters can have. Do you see any great blue herons around?

If it is otters you will see them. They are loud and play around. Go out early or late, they will be around if so.

According to the Gov't trapper I use, otters are the hardest thing to get rid of.

As you have learned, they can clean out a pond quick.

Took me a while, and several phone calls and discussions, but I finally found somebody that could connect me with a trapper.

We do have Blue Herons at the pond weekly, but no way could one of them lift a big catfish. And the herons have been around for years, but the catfish stared disappearing just a month or two ago.

How often does a river otter eat?

Otters eat from 15% to 25% of their body weight each day. They can spend up to five hours each day finding the food that they need in order to survive. Those that have offspring may hunt more because it takes a great deal of milk to feed their young. A female Otter can spend up to 8 hours a day nursing.

You now know where you catfish went.

Sometimes otters kill to just be killing. Then come back later and get. If u have a creek by your pond. Look for a crossover a path. Otter scat will be runny with alot of fish scales. I done a otter job last month. If a person had used a body trap. It can get smart to a bt. IF he has seen its buddy or 2 get caught he will wize up to. I use bridger #5 DLS or coilspring traps on drowning rods. Or hang snares where looks like there coming out or going in. I set a crossover on that job. I put 3 snares and a 220 bt in it. Next morning first 3 traps had otter'sp. Miss one in the 3rd snare. Reset the crossover. Next night I missed the otter in the snare day before. I caught the 4th otter in it. Ended up being 5 otters in that pond. Plus 9 beavers but dont take for new otters beavers to start showing up. I like to go in gang set the area ( alot of traps) catch them and get out.

Great information. Thanks.

Update us once you find and trap them

I have had them leave mine during a big rain when the water running in is a foot or 2 deep. They go upstream to the next tank.

It’s very unlikely the catfish left the pond. The trapper called while we were out, so I’ll call him tomorrow.

Mine feeds Lake Whitney about a hundred yards down stream so I get all kinds of stuff from down stream. I stand in shin deep water and kill dozens of turtles headed upstream before they get to my tank. Just passing on my experiences, but if you don't have the right kind of flow, then they won't go up.

Yeah otters are pretty hard to trap. Foxes, etc. will go to a post hole set, beavers have to fix dam leaks, etc. Otters can slide trough snares. I'd say a 330 Conibear (if legal) might be the best bet. Fur prices are rock bottom so if you get a nuisance trapper you might actually have to pay him.

Hi I have seen otters in a group cross a big hay field. Seen them out in a big bean field. They go about anywhere. Otters isnt hard to catch. I use a 10ft 3/8 rebar drowning rod. I use a #5 brigder hook to rod. I use a snare alot to catch them. There not hard to snare . I use a killpole when snaring them. Just the name they dont kill. 5ft pieces 1/2 rebar. I wrap #9 wire . It has a place to hook snare. Then u use wire to support your snare. A very easy set up. If I live closer I would help u out. Or show u how too. Because u take them out. Wont be long before more show up.

Interesting, I've only got 2 my whole life. Those sets sound interesting. A few years back the Buddhists in Tibet wanted otter for turbans and I need prime otter was going at $140 and what worked best wasn't the real thick stuff from Alaska but rather thinner pelts from warmer areas. I was going to get into it but then the Chinese Government has issues with the Dali Lama and put in an embargo- or something like that and the fur prices dropped to nothing. Nowadays trapping is a sport or animal control- not much money in selling the hides compared to the work involved.

No not much. I give up deer hunting too trap. If I lived in a place that people wanted to buy the meat (coons). There is ok money there . 10.00 to 20.00 per coon. I do not eat them. When I was young I catch too many coons around bone yards. I got another call to trap nuisance otters in stocked catfish and crappie ponds. I hate catching them in summer. Not anything to do with the fur. They do so much damage in them kind of ponds.

Yeah, I really love trapping, tough grubby work but I really love it. You have to be smarter than the critters you're after. Folks just don't understand.

That is very true. I have had a few coyotes give me trouble. I use a blind sets or snares. I end up catching them. It make take a few days.