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otters

kelcher

kelcher

Well-Known Member
How many of you have seen otters out in the wild? I ended up seeing my first one in the Cedar this weekend. Pretty neat experience. I hope I see more . . .
 
The only ones I hope to see are in my traps. They wreak havoc on ponds and rivers, but they are a pretty amazing animal. Some of the best hunters on the planet.
 
Mink on steroids. Fish wolf. If you have a pond not so glad to see them. I keep my pond cleaned out but a friend has stocked his pond three times. He gave up.
 
I have seen one and had pics of a pair on my trail camera over the last 4 years. Both times right between the Cedar and a small pond on my property. Also have a friend that trapped one not too far off the Cedar a couple years ago.
 
I caught 2 just today in my beaver sets. Since they are now out of season I've called the local DNR officer so he can pick them up.
 
kelcher said:
Kinda changing my mind about these things after reading all of this . . . .
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And when people tell you they clean out their ponds that's exactly what they do.... They will fish for play/fun in addition to for food. During ice season you will find fish carcasses on the ice with a single bite taken from the fish.
 
had one get into a family pond in southern iowa 10 years ago or so and pretty soon the shore was line with eaten catfish and bass.............
 
BDAHMS said:
had one get into a family pond in southern iowa 10 years ago or so and pretty soon the shore was line with eaten catfish and bass.............
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Exactly. And it's usually the coons and other scavengers that do the eating. The otters just kill to kill. There is a reason they're called water wolves.
 
have a whole pack of them that work from a neighbors pond into a major creek in my area. Have seen up to 6 at a time. Feel bad for the neighbors pond but we cannot do anything about them in Illinois. They are very cool to watch and sound like a herd of deer coming through ;)
 
jkratz5 said:
have a whole pack of them that work from a neighbors pond into a major creek in my area. Have seen up to 6 at a time. Feel bad for the neighbors pond but we cannot do anything about them in Illinois. They are very cool to watch and sound like a herd of deer coming through ;)
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Oh yes you can. IL biologist issued me a nuisance permit and warden said kill them all now. If away from a running body of water. In other words a pond. There is a trapping season now with a limit of 5 per person. They are thinking of lifting the quota. Fun to watch but still fish wolves.
 
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