Members gwh Posted March 29, 2009 Members Posted March 29, 2009 Heard on the St Louis news that the conservation dept has change regulation on traping of river otters to no limit. Last fall wife and I were fishing in Zone 1 at the bottom of the island and saw three otters swim up stream not 25' in front of us. It had rained on and off most of the day, it was mid week and very few folks fishing that day. We were catching fish and a few minutes before we saw them it just shut down. We watched the otters go up stream maybe 50 yards and start diving. We told one of the hatchery workers about seeing them, he did not really respond. Has anyone else seen otter in the park? They had to climb out to get past the dam. Are there any folks traping in the river below the park? I hear they are great fishermen.
fishinwrench Posted March 29, 2009 Posted March 29, 2009 There are a couple guys I know of that run traplines on the Niangua. They don't get many (if any at all) otters, mostly coons. The ones in the park are cool to have around IMO.
DoveTail Posted March 29, 2009 Posted March 29, 2009 I have only seen one before. It was far enough from me, it didn't spook the fish - but the fish know why they are in the river so I am sure it will causes the bite to shut down.
Members dbbmo Posted March 30, 2009 Members Posted March 30, 2009 I have seen a couple otters in Zone 3. One was close enough to touch. They haven't bothered me too much, but I know they eat all kinds of fish.
oneshot Posted March 30, 2009 Posted March 30, 2009 Otters Bad idea on MDC's part.They have cleaned out several Ponds around here of fish and frogs.Catch them in Ponds around here was told to shoot on sight.By Agent.Which is a Good Idea IMO. oneshot
brittsnbirds Posted March 30, 2009 Posted March 30, 2009 Oneshot- Are they calling River Otters the same thing as we call Muskrats? Pat
DoveTail Posted March 30, 2009 Posted March 30, 2009 Muskrats are totally different, although they do eat fish also.
creek wader Posted March 30, 2009 Posted March 30, 2009 Muskrats are totally different, although they do eat fish also. Muskrats mainly eat vegetation, like cattails, sedges, rushes, water lilies and pond weeds. In some areas it also eats clams, mussels, snails, crayfish, small fish and frogs. It is extremely rare for a muskrat to eat a fish, so I don't think the trout population would have anything to fear from them. However, River Otters are mainly fish eaters and are very proficiant at it. wader
DoveTail Posted March 30, 2009 Posted March 30, 2009 Muskrats mainly eat vegetation, like cattails, sedges, rushes, water lilies and pond weeds. In some areas it also eats clams, mussels, snails, crayfish, small fish and frogs. It is extremely rare for a muskrat to eat a fish, so I don't think the trout population would have anything to fear from them. However, River Otters are mainly fish eaters and are very proficiant at it. You missed posting turtles, another food source. As I mentioned, muskrats are totally different - indicating they are not going to be a huge predator on fish like an otter. But, they do eat fish.
oneshot Posted March 30, 2009 Posted March 30, 2009 Oneshot- Are they calling River Otters the same thing as we call Muskrats? Pat No they are Otters,had one in a hole on the river come up by me the other day.Thing is with Otters they don't just kill fish for food,they will kill them and leave them lay.I have yet to see a Muskrat or Beaver kill fish.They will do damage to Ponds such as making holes in the Bank and trashing with Limbs and twigs. I was with them when they first put Otters up along the Missouri River thinking numbers would never be high enough to let Trap them,but they got fooled there is a large number of them and people with Ponds are not happy. oneshot
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