WCO Work

[Buck457]

I have recently received my WCO certification as well as several calls about abandoned baby animals. Does anyone have any recommendations on a resolution? relocation is not permittable and they certainly would not want the poor thing dispatched. Thank you in advance.

[Humptulips]

If they truly are abandoned there is not much you can do for them. I would not get in a hurry about euthanizing them. The mother might come back but if she has been hit by a car or something and doesn't come back I would let the customer decide,

[carpsniperg2]

Lots of people see a baby animal alone and go "oh no it's abandoned!!!"  Which may be the case sometimes. However, the mother might just be off doing something and will come back and find the baby later. They get restless and like to wonder around out of there hiding holes sometimes.

Lot's of people see baby fawns by them selves and don't know anything about deer. Pick them up and cause a bunch of problems. Which of course does not apply to WCO work as we are not licensed to mess with big game animals. Just a example I use.

If it's there solo for days, then mother might have been killed and they only thing you can do is trap and euthanize it. Save it from suffering. First question to ask is how many days have you seen it alone? I'm guessing most your callers will say its the first time seeing it alone and just explain to them just cause its alone does not mean its orphaned.

[Buck457]

Thank you very much. I really appreciate the input.

[Mt.Beaver]

See if there is a PAWS or other animal rescue group in your area and the animal can be taken to them.  They can then use all that money donated to them to help animals.

[Buck457]

I am having a difficult time trapping river otters that are living under buildings where I cannot access, I would greatly appreciate any guidance, tips or tricks to getting these critters into a trap just outside of their entrance.

[carpsniperg2]

If it’s a choked down point where they are going in and out a double door swim through/run through trap should be money on picking them up.

A lot of guys don’t have them but it’s a handy tool if you plan on doing a lot of work with beaver or otters.

[Buck457]

i use vandervort swimthrough traps. however i am currently working a couple of jobs where the otter has about 80% access under the buildings, so there isn't really a choke point that i can funnel them through.

[Humptulips]

Here is a thought, If the otter are causing problems under this wide open house and you catch them there will probably be more otter later that will cause the same problems. Perhaps you could sell the customers on an exclusion   job. You could fence it or seal it and if the otters still needed to be caught  you could make your self that choke point.

[Buck457]

Thank you Bruce, i will give that a try if my current adjustment does not work. I basically stacked and filled his run with Vandervort swimthrough traps... 

[Humptulips]

Thank you Bruce, i will give that a try if my current adjustment does not work. I basically stacked and filled his run with Vandervort swimthrough traps... 

I had a job last year where I had 5 piled up to fill a channel.

[Norman89]

I have several spots where I have 2 stacked or 3-4 side by side with a big dive log over the top, cover all the water possible. The otters got wise to it after the second time passing that area and started a land trail around it, pretty interesting how quick they learned to avoid that particular pinch point

[Buck457]

I am still struggling to catch this river otter, does anyone have suggestions? maybe a bait or scent?

[greenhead_killer]

Throw a big bass lure or flasher in your trap. Tie it so it won’t mess up your trigger but that it can be seen while swimming. Hopefully a little current to keep it moving. I caught a 5#+ trout using this on a private pond two years ago. Not intentional, was targeting otters but they had left the area

[Humptulips]

Is this strictly dryland or is a water set possible?