I released an otter that stepped in a MB 750 Thurs. This catch was made at a dam crossover on a ADC job. There were no sign of otter anywhere that I could see.
This was my first release attempt on otter. Man, are those guys strong. Dropped my catch pole on him & thought a bomb went off. I have released beaver many times, no problem. Mr Otter was like trying to wrestle a spinning snake with legs and claws. Had him by a front foot, there was no damage to his foot either. I never saw something try to bite everything at the same time like that. Finally got the trap off of him without donating some of my hide to him.
When released it and it swam across the beaver pond, stopped to stare at me for a while. Wasn't sure if it was saying "Thanks fella" or thinking about comming back for round #2.
Called the State non game biologist, DNR district office, and saw a local CO, as otter are still protected in Indiana. I hope others in Indiana who catch otter do the same thing. Otter are getting a lot thicker and have expanded to where in my opinion we trappers should be allowed some kind of season on them.

By way of informantion, snared otters tend to die rather quickly when released.
I keep telling folks that an otter can turn inside-out inside his skin, and bite you from that direction.
Guess you saw how that can happen.
Later,
45/70

I caught my one and only otter by a hind foot in a No.2 double longspring set for raccoons. This set was a few yards off of one of our busiest interstates.
My young son and wife were along and when the otter stuck his head underneath an overhanging bank, I let him out with my bare hands. The otter didn't seem in any hurry to leave once he was released. I didn't know any better and ,I guess, neither did the otter.

i caught an accidental otter this spring beaver trapping, he didnt get released, my trusty 330 made sure of that, but did get turned over to the local dnr and they have it mounted in the district office... what a beauty.... again no sign of otter anywhere... not that i know what it looks like

LOL........bet i could find it......

lol

If there is a
"slick" spot without duck/muskrat poop....next to a crawl out...on the edge of a bank,,,,there is a good possibility it is otter sign (at least in my area)

Bud, you had an otter that far south? We usually don't see them until north of highway 7.

I would bet the Iowa reintroduction program is responsible for many otters in southern Mn.

http://www.iowadnr.gov/wildlife/files/otter.html

http://www.iowaoutdoors.org/article.php/20061031114804700

Our program in Illinois was far more successful than ever imagined.... they are very well-established in most waterways here. Our DNR tried opening a trapping season in a last-minute proposal at the last legislative session.... but the political forces are still going against science.

Ron thats exactly it... thats what the conservation officer told me... caught the otter a few miles out of New Ulm on the MN river

Successful may not be the word 10 years from now. I think numbers of otters in many instances is not a good thing. I am not saying exterminate them,but keep their numbers low.

The Governing bodys on regulating harvest tend to be on the cautous side. It doesn't take very high numbers of otter in certain areas to have the wrong affect. Some of these programs in the northern states to increase otter may affect other species that sportsmen would rather have. It may be too late and regulation too engrained to correct later.

It hasn't been that long when The folks at the office where I tagged mine were worried and actually thought I was hurting the environment by catching too many. When I caught more and more every year they realized it was the value that dictated the catch. The otter were there. As the value declined so did the catch. Plenty of otter, because they never saw any they thought they weren't.

Very few, almost no biologists with day to day, year to year actual hands on experience.

The Governing bodys on regulating harvest tend to be on the cautous side. It doesn't take very high numbers of otter in certain areas to have the wrong affect. Some of these programs in the northern states to increase otter may affect other species that sportsmen would rather have. It may be too late and regulation too engrained to correct later.

Amen to that. The otter restoration in IA has been very successful and the entire state is now open for harvest. The problem now is getting our DNR to increase the quota/trapper. We're still stuck on 2/trapper/season when the population will support a much greater harvest. Otter are being blamed for many other wildlife ills ranging from catfish to muskrat depletion.

Honestly, not having even seen an otter for the first forty years of my life then catching three in my muskrat traps was a very rewarding experience; well, certainly an experience.

I like that the species is returning to the area. But I know very well what Kirk is expressing caution about is the real deal.

We'll just have to hope that the Minnesota DNR adjusts the harvest numbers accordingly like hvtrapper stated.

I didn’t know Iowa had an otter reintroduction program going on. Even if I did I doubt that I would have thought for a minute that was where the long lost otters had been coming from. Thanks Ron and Bud for that information.

I’ve never observed an animal like the otter that exhibits such a friendly playful demeanor and in a split second attacks like the most viscous predator you never wanted to meet; then in as much time returns to its playful manner.

We have no limit on them and they cause Major damage to fish population. May no want them after you get them.