I have at least two, maybe more, otters in my ponds and I am wondering what damage to my fish population may occur. If anyone has had this experience and can provide advice, please let me know. I have read that an adult otter can consume about 2 1/2 pounds of fish per day.
Hey David; welcome!
You're in the right place. I personally don't have the practical experience and knowledge except to say that you're gonna see some responses from guys that do....and it ain't gonna be pretty.
-
Use the search function for otter and check off a time frame of about a year or so.
I too don't have any personal experience but some here do as Brettski says. From what I've read they can not only eat a lot of fish but they will kill for fun.
Todd Overton of Overton fish farm has lots of experience with them.
The 2 worst critters that can visit your pond from the fish perspective are otters and cormorants (water turkeys , anhinga). Get rid of them ASAP. Not only will the otters eat a bunch they will kill a lot more and eat part or very little. So one may eat 2 lbs of fish and kill another 2 lbs. In addition they target the bigger fish (your brood stock). So even after they are gone you have the unbalanced mess to deal with. This one was asked to leave one way or another.
Here is the otter that visited earlier this fall. It would not leave after encouragement. No longer a problem (SSS).
http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=79910&fpart=1http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthread...true#Post142131
I've killed 5 otters at my fish farm in the past 5 years. I know that there are more that have learned not to show themselves during the light of day. I even justified the purchase of a night-vision system to hunt otters and other critters. Going cyborg on an otter is one of the greatest thrills ever.
If you care about your fish then you need to make a choice. They can and will impose serious damage on your fish population.
beavers are ruining the area right below my pond, so last winter i set some traps and caught several beavers. i also caught an otter..this is only 100 yards or so from my pond. i have found some half eaten fish on the bank before (only one or 2)..im curious if the otters are coming to my pond. i have never seen one in there before and i am always around the pond..
are you seeing them during the day??
Yes at first. If you have seen half eaten fish you have an otter most likely.
Hey Todd you need to put your otter pics back up on the thread I linked.
David if all else fails put up an electric fence, it worked for me, they haven't been in the pond since, and I'll bet there's a few otters with burnt noses. 8000 volts
Thanks for all your comments. It looks like I'd better get rid of the otters to same my large bass. I have a number of bass in the 10 pound range and I suspect they may be slower than the smaller bass and greater targets.
David: Have or had? That is the question that will keep you awake at night until you find out...
FWIW: I've read that they prefer catfish.
Here's a link to some info...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_River_Otter
wiki info is outdated. Their populaiton has been on incline in many areas for last several years due to reintroduciton. THis is becoming a more issue. I have trapped them over the years but tougher than beaver to "trick". This will be more and more common. Many good trout fisheries are in trouble due to the introduction, kinda like the wolf/elk deal out west. I Love to watch them though they are so cool. Well deer hunting watch them in creeks. If in my pond I woudl not think twice about shooting them though. If the "man" is around check regs diff in each state.