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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 15
Lunker
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Lunker
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Will an otter do any damage to a pond? Just wondering. I think yes, but I could be wrong...
Last edited by Missouripondman; 04/28/10 09:40 PM.
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 271
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 271 |
It'll eat the hell out of your fish
Ponds in TX, lake place in WI, me in CA
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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It won't really damage the pond, but it will put the hurt to the fish population!!
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 347
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Feb 2006
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To Dam or not to dam That isn't even a question
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043 Likes: 1
Hall of Fame Lunker
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Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Aug 2002
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If one of those little ****ers ever shows up at my pond it's his worst Caddy Shack nightmare complete with IED's and a bazooka!
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 5
Fingerling
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Fingerling
Joined: Jun 2009
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Iwas a bit amused during last wt bow season that 5 river otters were playing and making their way towards me one afternoon. I was soon to realize they were on their way to my pond not 200 yes away and I made a move to draw, they saw me and got out of dodge. Worries me to know they are in the area and most likely having sushi during the week.
Work indoors to support my outdoor obsession
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 15
Lunker
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Lunker
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Ya, otters are probably the worst thing for a pond!!!
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Joined: Jul 2009
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Wow, freefire, with 5 of them they would do some serious damage. Have you seen any signs of them being present in your pond? How big is your pond?
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 5
Fingerling
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Fingerling
Joined: Jun 2009
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Todd3138,
No signs of them in some time, although year before last, prior to stocking and managing, I did see one in there, but no signs of since.
It's 1ac, stocked last April with 80 hybrid LMB, 250 cnp, 250 hbg, FHM,and 200 cc. Most were stocked at around 2-3" but so far as of this year the LMB have averaged 15-16", cnp 8", cc 7", and hbg 8".
I have no idea what impact the otters may have caused since I'm pretty much there on the weekend and I haven't seen anything out of the ordinary.
What kinds of sign would otters leave behind other than slides into the water? Do they leave fish on the bank?
Work indoors to support my outdoor obsession
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Joined: Jul 2009
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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I've never experienced them myself, but from reading here, they are known to just kill fish and leave them, eat a little bit of them and leave them, or eat them altogether. So, you may find carcasses or not, depending on their mood is what it sounds like from other posts. Plus, I think they have the ability to wipe out a pond pretty quickly if they are left unchecked. As far as other physical signs, I really don't know what you'd expect to find, but hopefully some others here will chime in and share their otter experiences with you.
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 135
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 135 |
They usually leave skeletons on and all around side of the pond...first clue. Second, they poop in a place usually highest part of a damn. Thats right, look for a poop pile and when u see the scat, it will have a ton of scales in it.
Remember, know your species by their feces!
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 15
Lunker
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Lunker
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I'm pretty sure they also eat the heads off the fish, so if you see tons of headless carcasses you know it's an otter.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 414
Lunker
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Lunker
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PAUL
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 163
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 163 |
I noticed about 6-8 fresh empty turtle shells around my pond this weekend. Never seen this before, but since I trapped an otter last year, I can only assume there are more. Thoughts?
Also, would otter and beaver be able to co-exist on a 12 acre pond?
Carl Spackler: "This place got a pool?" Ty Webb: "Pool and a pond. Pond would be good for you..."
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,663 Likes: 884
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,663 Likes: 884 |
I think you have at least one more otter. Yes, beaver and otter co-exist in ponds. Otter have much larger home territory than beavers, so they might have several beaver colonies in their home range.
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 5
Fingerling
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Fingerling
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 5 |
It appears my concerns were valid, just last week I spotted a otter in the pond and I'm disappointed to say he got away. Was able to take a shot with the 30-30 but the shot missed. Hopefully it will change his mind on staying but I'm not so hopeful.
Work indoors to support my outdoor obsession
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 9
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 9 |
where i duck hunt at there are 2 otters and 100's of 6 to 8" catfish bodies with the heads eating off every time i go to this 6 acre pond.they will catch one and take a bite out of there heads or throat and leave them on the bank, just to catch another one and do the same thing. if i had one in my pond it would be out as quick as possible.
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,730 Likes: 289
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,730 Likes: 289 |
Hopefully they are cleaning out the bullheads
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