Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Wildlife Management Hopeful Otter Deterrant

I am new here and pond ignorant but I want to give back where I am getting so much good advice. I cannot prove this works but so far so good, knock on wood. I usually rap myself in the head about now.
About a year after I dug my first pond Otters from the nearby river paid me a visit. I was away on vacation and they wiped me out. At the time I had 34 Rainbows, 2 Browns,6-7 SMBs, 3 big Cats and one Redeye, along with the minnows and Hornheads.They had a feast! We figure it was a pair just from the tracks and slides but not sure. I am sure I was serious mad though. Anyhow I now have solar powered mole chasers all around my ponds. It has been 7 years now and no Otters. They make a animal irritating sound every 30 seconds or so. I have noticed for sure that the wildlife definatly give it the go around just from the tracks. I bought them on sale at Northern supply for about 6.00 each. Buy the solar powered only as i got a few battery powered by mistake and no good. I have a few that have lasted years so good quality for the $.

That's very interesting. We have lots of otters around here, and they are bad news for ponds. Otters are the most efficient killer that ever visits a pond. I had no idea that mole chasers would work for otters. I have trapped lots of otters with conibear type traps.

Sounds like everyone that has otter trouble should experiment and see if this really works for every scenario. Would be a tremendous asset to pond management for those that need it.

Thanks for sharing.

I have never used mole chasers before. What kinda sound do they make? How loud is it? I thought it was the vibration in the ground that chased away moles.

MSC,
I think it is the vibration that really bothers the moles. It is also the sound though. Like I said I Am not positive but definate effect on all wildlife and no otters now for years. You can hear them go off when standing close by. I also had a problem with a pair of Muskrats where I got lucky enough to dispatch both on the same day with my 22.They were before the Otters but worried me especcialy burrowing into my dam. no more Muskrats either. We are loaded with all wildlife here. Deer, Bear, Coons and all and the tracks around my pond tell the story. They all avoid it and keep their distance it seems except the occasional coon.
Knock on wood,lol.