Are Otters Bad For Ponds or Dangerous? Otters can quickly and easily eliminate entire prized fish populations from a pond. They are very efficient predators and consume large amounts of food daily. Many slower-moving domestic fish such as carp and koi can make easy prey, especially in smaller ponds.
Where They Den. Otters need easy access to water, so they prefer to den along the water's edge in the river banks, rock piles or hollow logs. But they sometimes venture up to 1/2 mile away from the water to den if they can't find suitable shelter, building their nests under human structures such as boat landings.
Trapping is the most effective removal method; once set, a well-placed trap does the work for you. In other words, you can catch an otter without having to physically be there. Otters can be trapped in a variety of traps, including cage traps, footholds, and body-grip traps.
Killing river otters is legal if they damage property, crops or domestic animals, according to the Department of Fish & Wildlife. But it can be a more reliable method in commercial areas — nonlethal methods like scare tactics or barriers don't work as well in marinas because of the elusiveness of the animal.
Otters will make a narrow trail, 6 or 7 inches wide, and may never wear the grass down to the soil. They typically leave no sign, except for fecal deposits (scat) that often contain fish scales and bones.†“These scat deposits are oftentimes found on the backside of the pond dam, out of normal sight.
Some boat owners say that otters hate cayenne pepper powder, so worth a try as a deterrent. All you do is mix some up on a 50/50 split, and then either spray it or rub around the boat or dock edges.
One of the most effective ways of preventing river otters is by spreading the seeds of black pepper in your garden. Alternatively, you could make use of pepper spray. All these are supposed to deter otters from straying into your compound or garden. You may also consider using citronella oils.
An adult otter can eat up to 2 to 3 lbs of fish per day. Insects and small amphibians (like frogs) are also consumed. The otters usually like the small and more abundant fish rather than the larger trout. Instances of river otters eating small mammals and occasionally birds or ducks have been reported as well.
River otters breed in late winter or early spring. Adults generally give birth to between one and three pups, which are blind and helpless when born. They first learn to swim after about two months.
It's thought to be the shedding of the intestinal lining of the otter, along with some undigested bits of food, and anal secretions to add some aroma. Anal jelly is usually not the same color of spraints, and it has a jelly-like consistency. The anal jelly I've seen is usually white or tan, and makes a stinky puddle.
Otters can climb surprisingly well, and can even cross a 1.5m (4'11â€) high fence with footholds if determined. An adult dog otter can stretch up to the top of a 0.9m (3 foot) fence without climbing.
In a man-made waterbody, however, where the water needs to be kept at its intended level, they can be extremely destructive. Otters are the only true predator of the trio, feeding primarily on fish but also settling for any other small animal they can catch in or near the water.
Otters are most active at nightThough river otters are not strictly nocturnal, they are generally more active at night, particularly in the spring, summer, and fall. If you are trying to spot otters while out on a hike around the Potomac, your best chance is at sunrise or sunset.
Otters are found on every single continent in the world except for Australia and Antarctica. They enjoy the freshwater but they are also known to live in the saltwater of the oceans as well. Other places you will find them lingering include around rivers, streams, and lakes.
On land, river otters are agile, can run quickly and climb trees. They're small and narrow-bodied, with longer back legs than forelegs, so they move with a humping gait.
Pocket Set for Otters
- Look for a steep bank near a channel or trail.
- Dig a “pocket†(hole) into the bank so that it looks like the entrance to a beaver den.
- Put bait at the back of the hole. A large piece of fish works well in this situation.
- Set the trap just in front of the hole.
