Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Trapping => Topic started by: Humptulips on February 09, 2025, 10:38:31 AM

Title: Otter, population drop?
Post by: Humptulips on February 09, 2025, 10:38:31 AM: I'm hearing from trappers a big drop in catch of otters, as they say anecdotal. What are you seeing?
Title: Re: Otter, population drop?
Post by: Born2late on February 09, 2025, 10:49:53 AM: Haven’t been targeting them but am seeing them all over. Might put a few sets out this week for some. Doesn’t seem like there are a shortage here. Snohomish County
Title: Re: Otter, population drop?
Post by: builtfordtough on February 09, 2025, 12:01:28 PM: Alot on the wenatchee river too
Title: Re: Otter, population drop?
Post by: lewy on February 09, 2025, 12:33:08 PM: No shortage in my area, caught 3 without trying to hard and seeing sign/toilets just about everywhere I expect to
Title: Re: Otter, population drop?
Post by: Trapper John on February 09, 2025, 12:46:57 PM: Quote from: Born2late on February 09, 2025, 10:49:53 AM
Haven’t been targeting them but am seeing them all over. Might put a few sets out this week for some. Doesn’t seem like there are a shortage here. Snohomish County
:yeah:

Shortage, I don't think so.
Last time I was over at the Potholes they were all over there too.
Title: Re: Otter, population drop?
Post by: greenhead_killer on February 09, 2025, 01:24:14 PM: Bunch in the basin. There’s always sign and we saw a lot duck hunting this year as well.
Title: Re: Otter, population drop?
Post by: pianoman9701 on February 09, 2025, 01:38:45 PM: I didn't know otters hunted ducks. :dunno: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Otter, population drop?
Post by: Born2late on February 09, 2025, 01:42:38 PM: Quote from: pianoman9701 on February 09, 2025, 01:38:45 PM
I didn't know otters hunted ducks. :dunno: :chuckle:
One of my best areas is a farm with ditches that gets duck hunted, at night the otters come in and clean up all the cripples
Title: Re: Otter, population drop?
Post by: greenhead_killer on February 09, 2025, 03:41:58 PM: Quote from: pianoman9701 on February 09, 2025, 01:38:45 PM
I didn't know otters hunted ducks. :dunno: :chuckle:
Hahahahahaha. Fair enough!
Title: Re: Otter, population drop?
Post by: Humptulips on February 09, 2025, 05:51:33 PM: Quote from: pianoman9701 on February 09, 2025, 01:38:45 PM
I didn't know otters hunted ducks. :dunno: :chuckle:
That is funny but seriously otter do hunt ducks at times and about anything else. Water wolves.
Title: Re: Otter, population drop?
Post by: greenhead_killer on February 09, 2025, 09:22:28 PM: Quote from: Humptulips on February 09, 2025, 05:51:33 PM
Quote from: pianoman9701 on February 09, 2025, 01:38:45 PM
I didn't know otters hunted ducks. :dunno: :chuckle:
That is funny but seriously otter do hunt ducks at times and about anything else. Water wolves.
this is how I’ve described them to people potentially opposed to managing them. They are water wolves. Kill everything and anything available to them
Title: Re: Otter, population drop?
Post by: Cougartail on February 10, 2025, 06:08:05 AM: A few human swimmers have found out what kind of beasts they are. Water wolves describes them well.
Title: Re: Otter, population drop?
Post by: Sandberm on February 10, 2025, 06:38:32 AM: I haven't seen any this winter on my walks along the Snake or Columbia rivers but last winter I sure did.

I had one memorable day where I saw a family in a small pond off the river swimming along and to what seemed like every dive came up with a small fish in their mouth.
Title: Re: Otter, population drop?
Post by: boneaddict on February 10, 2025, 06:56:51 AM: I’ve been looking for a family of them on the Yakima for about 4 weeks. I haven’t seen any sign. I assume they were trapped.

I know Pman was trying to be funny, but they hunt and eat ducks all the time. Might be the one animal that keeps Mergansers in check. I wonder which species eats more fish ;)
Title: Re: Otter, population drop?
Post by: UrbanTrapper on February 17, 2025, 08:30:27 PM: I haven't seen any shortage of otters in the Seattle area. If you're worried about pollution it is not a pollution affecting Seattle drainages. I caught more last year but this has been my second-best year ever. I also caught doubles for the first time this year, one pair in a regular cage and another pair in a Hancock trap. The doubles were juvenile siblings, so they are reproducing well.
Title: Re: Otter, population drop?
Post by: Frank The Tank on February 18, 2025, 11:02:30 PM: Quote from: Humptulips on February 09, 2025, 10:38:31 AM
I'm hearing from trappers a big drop in catch of otters, as they say anecdotal. What are you seeing?
While also anectdotal, I know of at least one Fishing guide begging trappers to come trap down the Colville and hammer the otters to the point of offering free rides to help set and check. Unfortunately with our regs and trap requirements, I couldn't see the cost-benefit analysis work out. Others have mentioned them in many places here in central WA.