Otters

[Terrierman]

There is at least one really big otter in the pool above Green Bridge. They're one of those creatures that I have mixed emotions about. Pure selfishness on my part I guess. I should work on that.

[vonreed]

You are right about those emotions. Most people hate them that fish. But they are part of nature and no less or more important than any of the other animals. If it weren't for people and their selfishness to be the only one to catch fish, otters would be perfectly in tune with the ecosystem. We are the ones messing things up, not them. On the other hand, I love trapping em to, maybe I will get him next trapping season. They are a one of the neater animals to see on the river.

[Flysmallie]

Luckily I haven't seen the total destruction a family of otters unloads on the fish populations. I think they could hurt a pond pretty good. One of my favorite holes on the lower James had a family of otters living in it. They would come out and watch you fish. Funny thing is the fish population never declined until a big flood rearranged things a few years ago. Now the otters are gone and so are the fish.

[Ham]

I love otters. I really don't see them causing harm to fish numbers. I hear they're terrible on styrofoam floatation for boat socks though.

[Justin Spencer]

I like 'em too.

[RSBreth]

Probably a family member of the ones I've seen in that stretch, but not for a couple of years. There's a family of minks that live in a small cave in the bluff at the park in Ozark - you really have to be stealthy to see them but once I saw one eating a small largemouth bass like an ear of corn.
"nom nom nom nom nom nom...return,
nom nom nom nom nom ..swallow, return,
nom nom nom nom....."

[Terrierman]

You are right about those emotions. Most people hate them that fish. But they are part of nature and no less or more important than any of the other animals. If it weren't for people and their selfishness to be the only one to catch fish, otters would be perfectly in tune with the ecosystem. We are the ones messing things up, not them. On the other hand, I love trapping em to, maybe I will get him next trapping season. They are a one of the neater animals to see on the river.

Agreed on all counts, except I don't trap. But it is a cool sport. I'd be happy to show you where I'm talking about if you don't already know.

[jdmidwest]

Get used to them, Otter fur fell to about half of what it was last year. Demand is lower. Less trappers.

This year was a crappy year for them anyway trapping wise. Most of the state was froze up all season and not much water trapping.

[vonreed]

Agreed on all counts, except I don't trap. But it is a cool sport. I'd be happy to show you where I'm talking about if you don't already know.

I know where you're talking about. I've floated every section of the Finley from highway K down to the James and the James River at Northview on I44 to Tablerock many many times. I'd say the only person who knows the river better would probably be RSbreth. It's always good to have a clue where animals are though. Like jmidwest said, all of Missouri was locked down in ice for too long to have a good trapping season. We usually average over 20 otters a year around here, this year we got 1. Only floated 1 float and we got froze out due to ice after a couple days.