Missouri’sRiver Otter

A Guide to Managementand Damage Control

Missouri Department of Conservation

Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs of the Missouri Departmentof Conservation is available to all individuals without regard to their race, color, nationalorigin, sex, age or disability. Complaints of discrimination should be sent to the Departmentof Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102, or U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 18thand “C” Streets NW, Washington D.C. 20240, Missouri Relay Center —1-800-735-2966 (TDD).

Copyright © 2002 by the Conservation Commission of the State of Missouri

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Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Life History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Habitat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Reproduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Social structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Foods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Habits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Predators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Economic value. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Assessing Otter Damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Defining objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Natural phenomena . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Otter sign. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Damage Prevention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Damage Control Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Shooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Live trapping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Body-grip traps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Foot-hold traps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

In north Missouri streams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12In Ozark streams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Snares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Set locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Channel sets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Crossover sets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17At beaver dens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18At latrine sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Pocket sets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Marketing Pelts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Fur preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22How to skin an otter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Conservation Department Regional Offices . . . . . 26

Writers: Ron McNeely and Kyle Reno

Editors: Jim Braithwait, Daryl Damron, Dave Hamilton,Tom Hutton, Joan McKee, Scott McWilliamsand Wendy Sangster

Illustrator: Mark Raithel

River otters are once again part of Missouri’s natural landscape.

Otters do eat fish, buttheir presence in a farm ponddoes not automatically spelldisaster for fishpopulations.Sometimes otters are mistakenlyblamed for problems caused by naturalevents or other animals. Be sure to identifythe cause of the problem before takingaction against otters.

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Introduction

River otters were once commonto all major streams, wetlands

and natural ponds in Missouri.Severe degradation of thesefeatures, coupled with unregulatedharvest to support the fur marketduring settlement, almost causedotters to disappear. By 1936, only afew otters remained in southeastMissouri.

In the early 1980s withoverwhelming citizen support, thedecision was made to restore otterpopulations to all major streams inthe state. Between 1982 and 1992,845 otters were released in 35streams with suitable habitat.

From these releases, ottersincreased their distribution andabundance beyond the highestexpectations. By 1996, the otterpopulation had increasedsufficiently to support the firsttrapping season.

Today, otters are at the center ofconsiderable controversy. Openingotter trapping met strong oppositionfrom animal rights groups who filedlaw suits challenging legalized otterharvest. On the other hand, pondand lake owners and commercial

fish hatcheries regularly report fishdepredations by otters whosenumbers have grown to nuisancelevels in some locations.

Regardless of the controversy, thereturn of otters spells good news formost Missourians. Many peopleenjoy viewing otters in the wild,while others are happy just knowingthat these furbearers are once againpart of our world. The success ofotter restoration efforts indicatesthat water and habitat quality of ourrivers, creeks, ponds and wetlandshave improved since the 1930sbecause of successful, large-scalesoil and water conservation efforts.

The regulated trapping seasonprovides the only practical methodfor limiting otter populations inareas where they do substantialdamage to fish populations inprivate lakes and ponds. Smallerbag limits are established in someareas to protect smaller otterpopulations.

The purpose of this publication isto provide information about:

■ life history and biology of otters

■ recognizing good otter habitat

■ interpreting sign and assessingotter damage

■ trapping methods for wildlifedamage management

■ techniques for preparing pelts forpersonal use or sale.

Should you need further help, aMissouri Department ofConservation wildlife damagebiologist can assist you on site withyour nuisance otter problems. Seepage 26 for contact information.

Modern otterharvest by trappers

1996 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,054

1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,149

1998 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .854

1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,054

2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,340

Even with the reinstatement oftrapping in 1996, the numberof otters continues to increase.By 2001, populationsthroughout the state wereestimated to be between11,000 and 18,000.

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The river otter is Missouri’s largestrepresentative of the weasel

family. They have broad, flattenedheads with prominent whiskers,moderately sized eyes and smallears. The body is almost cylindricalwith a stout neck that is nearly thesame diameter as the head. Itslong, heavy tail is flat on thebottom, thick at the base andtapers from the body towards thetip.

Otters are dark brown in color onthe upper parts and may appearblack when wet. The belly is palebrown, and the muzzle and throathave a silvery cast. The fur is short,and the underfur is overlain byglossy guard hairs. Juveniles andsmall adults weigh about 10pounds, while the largest males

may reach 30 pounds or more.

The river otter is adapted toliving most of its life in the water.Some of the most obviousadaptations are the streamlinedbody, webbed feet and longtapering tail. The ears and noseclose when the animal goesunderwater, making them watertight. The eyes on top of the headallow the otter to see above waterwhen partially submerged. Its densefur has more than 10,000 hairs perinch and provides excellentinsulation from cold water.

HabitatOtters in Missouri are found instreams, ponds and wetland habitatsuch as oxbows, old river channels,

sloughs and borrow ditches.

Otters are closely associated withbeavers, relying on them for dens,as well as for areas to hunt forfood. They frequent pools createdby beavers to hunt for fish, crayfishand frogs. Because otters do notmake their own dens, they typicallymove into beavers’ abandoneddens and lodges. They sometimesseek shelter in muskrat dens orhouses. Occasionally otters will useburrows on levees, pond dams orriver banks abandoned by badgers,groundhogs or other animals.Bulldozed brush or tree pilesadjacent to wetland areas or pondsalso are used for denning.Sometimes otters are found livingin culverts at fish hatcheries orother impoundments.

Life History

Because otters do not make their own dens, they seek shelterin burrows on levees, pond dams or river banks abandonedby beaver, badgers, groundhogs or other animals.

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ReproductionRiver otters breed in February orMarch about two weeks after thefemales give birth to a litter of pups.Like some other members of theweasel family, otters have adelayed-implantation pregnancy.The fertilized eggs do not developimmediately, but remain in theuterine tubes as blastocysts forseveral months. Two months beforethe females give birth, the eggsimplant in the uterus and embryodevelopments begins.

Reproductive rates in Missourihave exceeded all previouslyreported rates for this animal.University of Missouri studies foundthat 60 percent of 1-year-oldfemales breed, as well as 90percent of females age two andolder. They also are having largelitters with three to four pups perlitter, which indicates a healthy,growing population.

Social StructureOtters are social animals. Femalescommonly stay with the young untilgiving birth to a new litter. Siblingsmay stay together for months afterleaving their mother. Males are moresolitary than females, but sometimestravel in groups of two or three evenduring mating season.

FoodsOtters are carnivores, eating anaverage of 2.5 pounds of meatevery day. Fish and crayfish are theirfavorite food items. Although fishprovide more calories per unit ofweight than crayfish, the later areeaten more frequently. Frogs,salamanders, snakes, turtles,muskrats, mussels and otheranimals are eaten opportunistically.

Otters also prey on migratingwaterfowl when they are abundant.

In northern Missouri as watertemperatures cool in the fall,crayfish are generally less active andharder to find. During this time,otters start exploring larger streams,lakes and ponds hunting for fish. Asspring approaches, otters onceagain move to wetlands, shallowwater sloughs and oxbows, andborrow ditches to feed on crayfish.

In spring-fed Ozark streams,crayfish are available to ottersnearly year round and theirpopulations can withstanddepredations by otters.

HabitsOtters resemble seals whenswimming underwater. They mayswim with their head and back outof water, completely under thewater, or in an undulating patternalternately going above and belowthe surface of the water. They canswim 1/4 mile under open water orice and can remain submerged for

three to four minutes.

While very much at home in thewater, otters often travel longdistances over land from one bodyof water to another. Otters areespecially active during weatherchanges when frontal boundariesmove through.

These short-legged animalsusually travel in a bounding gatewhen on land. On ice and snow,they often make several boundsthen slide on their bellies, creating aseries of dots and dashesresembling Morse code.

Females stay close to the denwhen nursing, but will be on themove as soon as the young are oldenough to travel. When ice andsnow cover streams and ponds,otters hole up in one place forseveral days. At these times, theymay stay in abandoned beaver densand hunt for fish and frogs underthe ice as long as they have a readyfood supply.

Otters have regular places wherethey defecate, called latrines, andothers where they roll in the sand,

Otters eat more crayfish than fish

Analysis of 443 otter stomachs during the 1997-99 trapping seasonsrevealed the following frequencies of occurrence of food. In 4percent of the otters studied, the stomachs were empty.

Food type Percent

Crayfish 61%

Fish 51%

Frogs 17%

Muskrats 3%

Ducks 1%

mud, grass or leaves along streamand lake banks, called wallows. Atboth of these locations, otterssometimes leave balled up grassand leaves, in which they roll to drytheir fur.

At latrines and other sites, scat isused to mark territory. Look for aloose assortment of crayfishremains and fish scales. Regardlessof whether they have been eatingfish or not, fresh scat will have adistinct fishy smell.

Raccoon scat can easily beconfused for otter scat becauseraccoons tend to leaveconcentrations of scat at similarplaces. Raccoons, however, areomnivorous; and their scats will

generally contain the remains ofcorn, berries and insects.

PredatorsOtters in Missouri have few naturalenemies. Coyotes, bobcats andlarge avian predators like eagles,red-tailed hawks or owls occasion-ally catch a young otter. Adultotters, however, are formidablefighters, quite capable of fending offthe largest predators, includingdomestic dogs.

Economic valueRiver otters produce one of themost durable furs. Otters wereprized by Native Americans and

early European trappers and tradersfor fashioning durable, warm,water-resistant clothing, as well asfor their monetary value in theworld markets.

Asian markets have been theprimary buyers of American otterpelts in recent history. River otterpelts recently have brought $60from rural fur buyers, and as muchas $90 at Canadian fur auctions.Compared to mink, raccoon,muskrat and other furbearer pelts,otters are the most valuable.

In spite of the higher prices fortheir fur, few people in Missouritrap specifically for otters. In fact,only about 25 percent of licensedtrappers catch otters each year.

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On ice and snow, otters often make several bounds then slide ontheir bellies, creating a series of dots and dashes resembling Morsecode, as shown below.

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While otters cause some damageto fish populations in

commercial hatcheries,impoundments and streams, andcan leave unsightly messes onboats and swimming docks, theyare often wrongly blamed forproblems caused by other animalsand natural phenomena. Beforedeveloping a plan of action tocontrol otters, you should firstdetermine that these animals areindeed the source of the problem.

Defining objectivesIf you’re in the commercial fish-farming business, you will want todiscourage otters from entering yourfacilities, and eliminate those thatdo. However, if you own a pond orlake for fishing and aesthetics, youneed to consider your fisheries

management objectives beforeassessing your otter situation.

The fertile soils in north Missourimake ponds and lakes veryproductive. An average farm pondin this part of the state normallysustains between 300 to 500pounds of fish per acre. Scaled fishspecies that readily reproduce inponds, such as bass, bluegill andcrappie, should sustain themselvesin the face of occasional otterdepredations.

Channel catfish populations thatmust be sustained through periodicsupplemental stockings are mostsusceptible to population declines,and are sometimes eliminated byotters. According to studies, catfishare more susceptible to otter preda-tion and may be targeted by ottersin farm ponds because these fishdon’t rely on cover and are easier to

find. Catfish are especially suscepti-ble during the cold winter monthswhen they are more lethargic.

If you don’t manage for channelcatfish, otters probably are not aproblem and you can enjoy themalong with the diversity of otherbirds, mammals, reptiles andamphibians that frequent your pond.

Natural phenomenaFinding partially eaten fish carcassesalong the shoreline isn’t necessarilya sign of an otter problem. Fish thatdie from natural phenomena floatto the surface of the pond or lakeand drift into the shoreline makingthem available to raccoons, skunks,mink, opossums, herons and otherfish-eating animals.

A little detective work isnecessary to determine whether the

Assessing Otter Damage

Otter tracks

Hind foot

Front foot

Look for marksfrom webbed feet

2 5/8 inches

Beaver tracks

6 inches

Marks fromwebs notalways distinct

Front foot

Hind foot

Beaver tracks illustratedby Charles W. Schwartz

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kills are the result of otters or someother cause. First check the depthof your pond. Aging, shallow pondsless than 8 feet deep aresusceptible to fish kills caused bylow dissolved oxygen levels duringextreme conditions in summer andwinter. These fish kills are generallyassociated with rapid growth ofmicroscopic plants calledphytoplankton, which further lowersthe oxygen level in the pond if largequantities of the plants die anddecay over a short time.

Because fish can succumb to avariety of parasites, illnesses anddisease, check any dead and dyingfish for parasites. Disease problemscan strike individual fish or bewidespread, depending on thedensity of the population andenvironmental factors.

Otter signWhile the best indicator of otterpresence is a direct sighting, be

sure you aren’t confusing them withother semi-aquatic mammals, suchas beavers or muskrats. Remember:Otters are fairly large animals,much bigger than muskrats. Thecylindrical body shape and longnarrow tail help distinguish ottersfrom the stouter and rounderbeaver with flat scaly tails.

If you haven’t actually seen anotter but suspect one is nearby, youshould look for signs they’ve leftbehind. Fresh tracks or droppingsare the best clues that otters arefrequenting an area. Droppingsusually are easier to identify thantracks because grassy banks andshorelines can make detecting andidentifying tracks difficult. See thehabits section on page 4 for help inidentifying otter scat.

Snow cover on iced-over lakes,streams and ponds makes it easierto identify otter tracks, slides,droppings and remains of fish thatotters have eaten. Otters generallyleave the heads of catfish intact

along the shoreline. Scaled fish maybe completely devoured so thatonly a few scales, fins and blood onthe snow is all that is left.Sometimes otters will leave largepartially eaten fish laying on thebank near holes in the ice oraround their dens.

In snow or muddy conditions,look for the otters’ characteristicgait. Otters usually take two ormore bounds, and then slide ontheir bellies in the snow.Sometimes the mark of thedragging tail will show along withtracks in the snow or mud,especially when the otter is walking.

Latrine sites are almost alwaysevident around the shoreline of apond or lake that otters arefrequenting. Usually, these sites willbe on the highest banks of thedam, or on a point that extends outinto the water. At dams, look for adirect path from the stream. On topof the dam near this trail is a goodplace to look for latrine evidence.

Muskrat tracks

To be certain otters are in the area where damageis occurring, compare the otter tracks, far left, withthose of other animals commonly found around theshorelines of ponds and streams.

Mink tracks Raccoon tracks

Front foot

Front foot Front foot

Hind foot

Hind foot

Hind foot

1 inch

3 inches

4 1/4 inches

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Damage Prevention

Once you have determined thatotters are causing damage, you

can develop a plan to resolve theproblem.

Because otters don’t build theirown dens, they usually won’t stay ina pond unless a den is present forthem to use. Otters typically den inabandoned beaver lodges, as wellas muskrat dens and houses.Removing beavers and muskrats inthe pond or nearby stream anddestroying the dens and lodges maydiscourage otters.

Sometimes otters den in inletand outlet tubes of impoundments.If so, they should be sealed withbarriers and flap gates to excludeotters while still allowing the waterto flow.

It is difficult to prevent ottersfrom entering ponds and eating fish.Maintaining some aquatic weeds orplacing brush piles in the pond willprovide cover to help fish escape.

Fencing also is an option,although it may be too expensive

and impractical in some areas.When practical, a properlymaintained, hi-tensile electric fencecan be effective. At least fourstrands, spaced at 4- to 5-inchintervals, should be kept tight andclear of any grass or weeds thatcould ground the electric charge.The bottom wire should be low to

the ground, and the spacing of thewires should be close enough sootters can’t get under or betweenthem without getting shocked.

Permanent welded-wire fencesalso may be useful to keep ottersout of a pond, but the effectivenessof this type of fence needs furthertesting.

To exclude otters by using an electric fence, place the first strand 4inches from the ground and the rest at 4- to 5-inch intervals.

Electric fences cankeep otters fromentering a pond, butmust be maintainedto be effective.

Otter traps: where to use themType Channels Streams Crossover trails Beaver dens Latrine sites Pocket set

Body-grip ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Foot-hold ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Snare ✔ ✔

Cage ✔

Must be used only during the regular trapping seasonMust be completely underwaterCan only be used on dry land with special permission

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The best time to remove nuisanceotters from your property is during

the regular trapping season when itis easier to find expert trappers to dothe job for you. It also allows you orthe trapper to make use of theresource by selling the pelt.

If this timing is not possible, rule4.130 of the Wildlife Code ofMissouri allows landowners to uselethal methods such as shooting ortrapping any time of the year toremove nuisance otters. Under thisprovision, otters may be controlledonly on the owner’s property toprevent further damage to lakesand ponds. The rule does notpermit landowners to remove ottersfrom streams that run through theirproperty outside of trapping season,even if the landowners believe theanimals are taking fish from thestream.

Nuisance otters trapped out ofseason under this provision must bereported to a conservation agentwithin 24 hours and disposed of inaccordance with the agent’sinstructions.

ShootingOtters are often active duringdaylight hours and are sometimesseen in farm ponds feeding on fish.Because they have poor eyesight

out of the water, they can bestalked by a skillful shooter at theselocations. Otters will sometimesnotice a motionless person on thebank and move closer to get abetter look, enabling a person tosafely shoot them.

Take care when shooting aroundwater. To avoid bullet ricochet, nevershoot a rifle at flat water at a lowangle. It is best to use a shotgun orwait until a safe rifle shot away fromthe water presents itself.

Live trappingAlthough live trapping and releasinganimals at another location maysound like a good way to solve anuisance otter problem, it usuallydoesn’t work. Relocating otters canmean transferring the animals toanother location where they mayagain cause problems. Also, mostlandowners do not want someoneelse’s problem otters released on ornear their property.

In some cases where ordinancesprohibit the use of other types oftraps, live trapping may be the onlyoption. Keep in mind, however, thatlive trapping and relocating otters isdifficult. Otters aren’t readily caughtin conventional cage traps, andindividuals must be moved a longdistance to prevent their return to

the same area.

The otters that were relocatedduring Missouri’s restoration effortwere caught with foot-hold traps.However, handling live otterscaught in these traps can be riskyand requires special care andexpertise by trappers to avoid injuryto themselves and the animal.Consequently, a foot-hold trap isnot a practical live-catch tool for theaverage person.

Only a few cage traps arespecifically designed for trappingriver otters. Be sure the trap is atleast 48 inches long. Don’t useconventional traps designed forraccoons. These traps are too short,and the otter’s tail will block thedoor and allow the animal toescape.

An effective otter trap can bebuilt by modifying and combiningtwo 12 x 12 x 36-inch Tomahawkcage traps. This trap, with a fewmodifications to reinforce andspeed it up, can be effective atcrossover trails. See page 10.

If the path is not alreadyrestricted by brush or other objects,use sticks to lead otters into thetrap. Be careful not to tramp downa trail around the trap as you checkthem or the otters will take yourtrail instead of going into the trap.

Damage Control Techniques

1

2

2

2

1

3

33

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1. Remove the back ends of two traps. Save the twopieces of welded wire about 9 inches by 8 inchesto use in step 3.

2. Twist-tie wire at several places around the top,bottom and sides to attach the traps back to backto create a 72-inch, double-door trap. Byattaching the traps in this way, they can be easilytaken apart for adjustment if necessary.

3. To ensure that the otter will activate the modifiedtrap, you will need to enlarge the treadles. To dothis, drill holes in the metal treadles and attachthe two pieces of welded wire from step 1 to themetal treadles using small pieces of tie wire.Note: The welded wire can get bent when ananimal is caught in the trap and may have to befixed before the trap is used again. Be sure tobend the wire so the animal won’t get cut by theends of the welded wire.

4. The lengthened treadles cause the trap to have ahair trigger. To solve this, attach a metal U-shaped clamp through the side of each trap sothat the clamps fit around each steel rod thatruns from the door to the treadle. Tighten theclamp to get the right tension.

5. Weld a steel bar to the bottom front of each trapso the doors lock down when they fall. Be surethe doors fall hard enough to slip over the steelbar and that they lock down every time. Note: Ifthe trap does not snap down quickly, attach along, screen-door spring (not shown) from theside of the trap to the door. Adjust as needed.

6. Then weld one end of a short (about 1 1/2inches) steel bar lengthwise to the bottom front ofeach trap. Point the bar up slightly to keep thetrapped otter from pushing the doors open, butnot so much that the doors won’t close. See below.

How to modify Tomahawk live traps for otters

1. Put 2 traps togetherback to back

5. Weld a steel bar lengthwise.See illustration below.

4. U-shapedclamp

3. Enlarge both treadleswith woven wire

2. Use twist-tie wireto keep the trapstogether

5. Weld this bar lengthwiseacross the bottom of the cage.

6. Weld one end of a shortsteel bar. See illustrationbelow.

6. Weldthisendof theshortbar.

Body-grip trapsBody-grip, or Conibear, traps are designed to catch an animalaround the body and kill it almost immediately, much like acommon rat trap. These traps are easily placed in a variety oflocations and are the most effective lethal method for catchingfurbearing animals that swim in the water.

Body-grip traps are made in a variety of sizes toaccommodate several different animals. Sizes #220, #280 and#330 are commonly used for catching otters, with the larger#330 generally producing the best results. All body-grip trapsfor otters must be set underwater.

Otters are fast, powerful animals and only good quality trapswith strong springs in good working condition should be used.Inspect traps annually, and replace weak springs and brokentriggers.

Because body-grip traps large enough to catch otters arepowerful, be careful while using them. They are difficult to setby hand so most people use a trap setting tool to compressthe springs.

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A #330 body-grip trap,below, catches an animalaround the body when itswims through the trap.

Foot-hold trapsFoot-hold traps have two jaws that grasp the animal’sfoot. These traps can be used to hold the animal aliveuntil the trapper checks it each day, or in a set thatdrowns the animal within a few minutes after it iscaught.

Like body-grip traps, foot-hold traps come in avariety of sizes. Be sure all traps are in good workingcondition. For otters, use the foot-hold traps shownhere:

■ a #1 1/2 offset, laminated-jaw, coil-spring trap

Top view

Side view

Top view

■ a #11 offset, laminated-jaw, long-spring, foot-hold trap

Side view

Using foot-hold trapsin streams with mudor sand bottoms

Foot-hold traps can be used as a lethaltechnique for catching otters in streams onlyduring the regulated trapping season. Use curedwooden stakes to hold the otter underwater soit will drown quickly. Use the technique on thispage that best fits your situation.

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slide lock

tangle sticks

For addedattraction,place a pieceof carp insidethe pocket.

B. For pocket sets, drive a second tangle stakein the stream bottom near the first stake.The trap is then wired to the stake with fourtwisted strands of 16-gauge wire. Oncecaught, the otters head for deeper water,wrap the chain and wire cable around thetangle stake, and drown. See page 20 formore details on pocket sets.

Note: For stakes andtangle sticks, usehardwoods that havedried for a couple ofmonths. Do not usegreen wood becausebeaver are likely tocut them.

A.

B.

A. At crossover trails, drive a cured, sturdy stake firmly intothe stream bottom in water that is 3 to 4 feet deep.Drive a similar stake near where the trap is set. Use awire cable or twist four strands of 16-gauge wire into acable, pass it through the sliding lock on the trap chainand tie the ends of the cable to the two stakes wherethey enter the ground. This setup leads otters to deepwater, and the slide lock keeps them from returning tothe surface.

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For drowning sets, traps are generally tied to large rocks or tree roots near shore and to a big rock in deeperwater. Some trappers save nylon-mesh onion bags throughout the year. At the trap site, they fill these light,sturdy and inexpensive bags with rocks, attach the slide wire and toss the weighted bag into 3 or 4 feet of water.

Using foothold trapsin Ozark streams

When trapping in clear, rocky Ozarkstreams, traps, sets and equipmentremain the same as for northernMissouri streams; but the gravel,rocks and bedrock require differentapproaches for securing the traps.

SnaresSnares are an effective way to catchnuisance otters. These simple, yeteffective tools, are made of loopsthat cinch down on the animal’sbody when it walks or swimsthrough the device.

A good quality snare for otterscan be made with a 24-inch lengthof 3/32 galvanized or stainless steelaircraft cable, a sliding lock and aswivel. The loop in the snare shouldbe 5 or 6 inches in diameter. Use

No. 9 wire to support the snare atthe site. Secure the snare to a firmobject like a tree or root with fourstrands of bailing wire or a lightcable. Snares should only be usedonce because the cables kink afterone catch.

Note: While snares can be usedeffectively on dry land or in thewater, it is illegal to use snares onland unless issued a permit by aconservation agent or wildlifedamage biologist.

Snares are inexpensive and easyto use. Their main disadvantage isthat the most effective snarelocations for otters on land also arefrequented by non-target animalslike raccoons, minks, muskrats, aswell as domestic dogs and cats. Incontrast, snares used in water setscatch very few non-target animals.

Note: It is imperative thatneighbors and hunters know whensnares are being set on land sothey can keep their pets out of thearea until snares are removed.

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Place a snare underwater at acrossover trail frequented by otters.Use dried sticks to lead the animalsinto the snare.

Set LocationsSetting a trap in the right location isessential to catch a specific species.Match the sets listed below withyour situation and location.

Channel sets

Channel sets are probably the mosteffective for catching otters. As thename implies, a trap or snare islocated in a narrow stream channelor in a continuous depressioncreated by beaver activities at theupper end of a lake. Otters usethese areas to swim from onelocation to another.

Body-grip traps can be usedeffectively in both a pond or a

nearby stream. Remember: Body-grip traps must be set completelyunderwater. Use a spade or shovelto deepen the channel if needed.

It is important to choose the rightlocation for a channel set. Look fortracks on mud banks or sand barsat the upper and lower ends ofpools, which indicate where ottersare entering the water andswimming in the channels. One ofthe best locations is just below abeaver dam where beaver, as wellas otters, are crossing the dam.

Place the trap in the channelwith the springs out to the side andthe trigger on top. The trigger wiresshould be spread to fill as much ofthe target area of the trap as

possible. The trap may be set onthe bottom of the channel if the soilis firm. If the soil is soft, angle thesprings down 45 degrees to supportthe trap above the bottom to keepit from being slowed by siltysediments.

Use two dried sticks, 3/4 to 1inch in diameter, to stabilize thetrap. Push the sticks into the mudso they cross over the top of thetrap, pass between the corners ofthe jaws, through the springs andfirmly into the mud. Always usedried sticks for guides to keepbeaver from cutting them andruining the set. Wire the trap firmlywith two strands of 16-gauge wireto a nearby sapling or stake.

15

In a shallow channel, use a body-grip trap as shown above. Use dried sticks to lead otters into the trap. Dig adeeper channel if needed to get the trap completely underwater.

Wire the trapfirmly to a sapling.

Use dried sticks tostabilize the trap.

Once the trap is in place, narrowthe channel on either side byconstructing a fence with dry stakesto force otters to swim through thetrap. To do so, simply push thesticks in the mud starting next tothe support stakes on either side ofthe trap. Continue the fencing tothe adjacent stream banks. If thebanks slope gently and the ottersare traveling over land rather thanthrough the water, put brush andother debris on the banks to keepthem in the water.

Too much fencing is better thannot enough. The fencing will changethe appearance of the area, butotters are used to theirsurroundings changing with every

high flow in the stream. Toencourage otters to dive throughthe trap, add sticks across the top ofthe trap.

For deep channels, wire thesprings of the body-grip trap to along pole. Pull both springs at a 45-degree angle away from the trap.Wire the trap firmly to the pole.With the trap attached, firmly pushthe pole in the mud and place driedsticks to fence the channel belowthe trap. Wire the top spring safetycatch so it doesn’t interfere with thetrap’s action.

Check the trap daily and removeany leaves or debris so it will functionproperly. Don’t worry if you don’tcatch anything right away. Otters

often leave an area, then return aweek or two later. Because otterstend to travel in groups, several setsalong the length of a channel canresult in multiple catches.

Snares can be used effectively inchannel sets in the following ways:

■ If the water isn’t too deep, set thesnare halfway in the water.

Note: Before using snares thatare not completely underwater,you must get authorization froma wildlife damage biologist orconservation agent.

■ If set completely underwater, useguide sticks, as well as a divestick, to get otters to swimthrough the snare.

16

In a deeper channel, set the trap on a pole. To get otters to enter the trap use a dive stick and plenty of fencing.Too much fencing always is better than not enough.

Dive stick

17

Crossover sets

Like most animals, otters arecreatures of habit. Theyroutinely use the samewaterways and trails crossingfrom one body of water toanother. Sometimes thesecrossover trails are obvious. Atother locations, they may bemore subtle. Crossoverscommonly traverse the top ofpond dams where otters travelfrom the stream below to thepond above. Often these trailswill be in a direct line with thestream below the dam;however, natural obstructionssuch as logs, brush piles andfences may cause them totake a circuitous route.

Obvious crossovers are wellworn and are usually 4 to 6inches wide. If beavers orraccoons are in the area, theywill use the trails as well. Oncloser inspection, you willlikely find otter scat nearby,usually on a high point at thetop of the pond dam. Tracksmay be visible in the mudwhere the trail meets thepond or stream edge.

Occasionally beavers willmake a groove in the bankwhere the trail meets thewater. This well-worn path is aready-made site for a #330 body-grip trap. Set the trap in this grooveas described in the channel setsection on page 15. Excavate thegroove with a shovel if it is tooshallow or narrow.

If there is no groove at the site,make one yourself. Your excavatedtrench doesn’t have to extend allthe way up the bank and into thewater. Just be sure to get the trapunderwater and line it up with thetrail.

As in channel sets, use sticks andlarge logs to completely fence thearea on either side of the set to

encourage otters to go through thetrap. If you find a pool of water onthe stream side of the dam, make asimilar set at that location, too.

In areas where no obvious trailscan be found but otter signabounds, you can construct acrossover trail. First scout the area,and select a logical location. With asaw or axe, remove obstructionssuch as logs, brush and shrubs.Walk over the path several timesmatting the grass by dragging yourfeet to make the trail look well

worn. The trail only needs to be 6or 8 inches wide. Then dig a grooveand make an underwater trap set asdescribed above.

To make the crossover trailespecially enticing to otters, scoopmud from the pond or streambottom and smear it on the bankand up the trail several feet. Themore muddy it looks, the better.Otters notice and use these muddytrails because they are curious andwill take advantage of an active trailused by other otters and beavers.

A #330 body-grip trap set where the trail meets the water is a ready-madesite for a crossover set. Use dried sticks to direct otters into the trap.

18

For added appeal, rub the flesh of cut carp, shad, buffalo or otherfish along the groove and into themud, leaving lots ofscales in the area.Some trappers carry otterscat from another location and place apile of it on the bank. Balled upgrass also will make it look like other otters are using thetrail.

Snares also can be effectiveon crossover trails; but beforeusing them on dry land, youmust get authorization from awildlife damage biologist orconservation agent.

Place the snare with a 5- or6-inch loop in the natural orexcavated groove. To support thesnare, use No. 9 wire bent in a Ushape with both ends stuck in themud. Position the snare 2 inches offthe bottom of the trench. Make sureno leaves or twigs interfere with itsfunction. Securely wire the snare toa stake, sapling or root with wirethat is at least as strong as fourstrands of twisted bailing wire. Aswith the body-grip set, use fencingto guide the animal through thesnare and small upright sticks toconceal it.

If you need further helpconstructing or using snares, contactthe wildlife damage biologist inyour area. See page 26.

At beaver dens

Otters routinely use both active andinactive beaver dens and lodges,but traps should only be set at theinactive ones unless you want toremove the beaver as well. Becareful around these dens becausethe water can be deep. Use chestwaders to stay dry, especially in coldweather.

When ice covers the pond, densand lodges may be the only

locations where traps can be set. Atactive lodges, the beaver often keepthe water open, giving otters accessto fish under the ice. Otters seekingshelter in beaver dens generallyleave plenty of droppings and othersign such as fish remains. If nosnow covers the ice, look for stringsof bubbles visible under the ice toindicate the locations of entrancesto bank dens and lodges. Bubblesalone, however, are not an indicatorof otter activity because beaversand muskrats leave them, too.

Den and lodge entrances areexcellent sites to set body-grip

traps. Look for a shallow trench inthe pond or stream bottom. Youcan feel the entrance to the den orlodge and the definition of thetrench with your feet, or in shallowwater with your hands. Place thetrap in the trench, flush against theactive entrance, supporting the trapwith slender dry sticks pushedthrough the trap jaws and springsinto the mud as described in thechannel sets section on pages 15and 16. In deep water, wire the trapto a long pole. Fencing with guidesticks may not be required unlessthe entrance is exceptionally large.

Body-grip traps set at inactive beaver dens and lodges may be the onlyplace to catch otters when ice covers a pond.

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At latrine sites

Sites where otters defecate arecalled latrines. They may be up to20 yards from the water’s edge onthe pond dam or higher points ofland. Otters visit these sites everytime they are near the pond. Theyplay a role in the social structure ofthe otter population and are a formof scent marking.

Usually a trail leads from thewater’s edge to the latrine site. Atrail can be enhanced orconstructed by using the samemethods as described in thecrossover set section on page 17.Sometimes an opening throughvegetation or tracks in the mudshow where otters are entering andleaving the water. The mud-slickedtrail will help entice otters to use it.A #330 body-grip trap set in anexcavated groove in the banksimilar to the crossover set workswell at these locations. Use plentyof guide sticks and logs to force theotters to swim through the trap.Musk from otter or mink glands, orotter scat collected from anotherlocation, will help attract otters tolatrine sites.

Close up of a latrine site

fish scales

Crayfish remains

Otter scat

#330 body-grip trap setat a latrine site

latrine site

If using a foot-holdtrap at a latrine set,use plenty of sticks toget the otter to stepon the trap pan.

Pocket sets

Channel sets, crossover sets, latrinesite sets and sets at beaver densand lodges are the most effectivefor otters. However, on rareoccasions when no suitablelocations for any of these sets exist,a pocket set can be used.

Because otters are nearsighted,the location of the pocket set iscrucial. If the set is not locatedwithin a few feet of where otterstravel, they may not notice it at all.Look for a location where a deepchannel or overland otter trail isnext to a steep bank.

To construct a pocket set, dig ahole into the bank to resemble asmall beaver den entrance. The bestplace is in a firm, fairly steep bank

free of rocks or tree roots. Useeither a #330 body-grip or a foot-hold trap. Pocket sets with foot-holdtraps will likely catch non-targetfurbearers such as raccoons andmink. They should be used whenother options won’t work, or duringthe regular furbearer trappingseason when the other pelts can bemarketed.

For a #330 body-grip set,excavate a trench into the bankleading to the hole that is large anddeep enough so the trap can beplaced just outside the hole andunderwater. Then dig a 10-inch hole3 feet into the bank at an upwardangle. The upper end of the holeshould be above the water. Placethe trap just outside the hole, anduse two dry sticks to hold it firmly

as described in the channel setssection on page 15. Place a largepiece of fish at the back of the holefor bait. For additional eye appeal,put a chicken egg in the hole.

To use a foot-hold trap, such as aa #1 1/2 coil spring or #11 longspring, begin by digging a holeupward and angled back into thebank 2 inches above water level.Use your hands to smooth the den-like hole, bait it with fish and addan egg.

Excavate a flat area in the bottomlip of the hole so the water runsback into the hole 5 or 6 inches.Then firmly set the trap on the flatarea in front of the hole underabout 2 inches of water. Attach thetrap to a drowning set as shown onpage 12.

20

Pocket set locations on a stream

curre

nt

otter crossing

sand/gravel bar

pocket set

pocket setnear crossing

choke point

Pocket sets are used when the sets mentioned in the previous pages will not work. Look for a location where adeep channel or overland otter trail is next to a steep bank.

21

Pocket sets with body-grip traps canbe effective along streams. Seeillustration on page 20.

Place a large piece offish at the back of thehole for bait. Foradditional eye appeal,put a chicken egg inthe hole.

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Marketing Pelts

While pelt prices for mostfurbearers fluctuate over time,

otter pelts generally hold theirvalue. Otters trapped during theregulated trapping season by alicensed trapper can legally be soldafter being tagged by a conserva-tion agent. Tagging may be per-formed after the otter is skinned orafter the pelt has been dried. Otterpelts must be tagged and soldwithin 15 days after the end of thetrapping season.

Several fur buyers and dealersthroughout the state buy otter andother furbearer pelts. Contact yourlocal conservation agent to locate abuyer in your area. The MissouriTrapper’s Association sponsors twoor three fur auctions in the stateeach year. Some trappers find itprofitable to ship their fur toCanadian auctions.

How to skin an otter

1. Hang the otter by one or bothof the hind feet.

2. Cut around each hind leg justbelow the feet.

3. Make the opening cuts downthe inside of each hind leg tojust above the anus.

4. The two cuts should join justabove the anus.

Fur preparationTo make best use of an otter skin,the animal and pelt need to behandled properly from the time it iscaught until it is sold. Properhandling begins when the otter isremoved from the trap.

The animal should be washed atthe trap site to remove any sand ormud and kept clean whiletransported. If the fur is still wetwhen you get home, rub it downwith a soft cloth or paper towels toremove most of the water, thenhang it in a warm place in front ofa fan until it dries.

Otter are difficult to skin becausemost of the skin must be cut freeof the flesh. Having properequipment makes handling the fureasier and more efficient. A pocket

knife with a 3-inch long, slenderblade—often called a muskratblade—is a good choice because ithelps you make clean opening cutsin the skin. Use a good qualitysharpening stone and butcher’ssteel to keep the blade sharp.

Be careful when skinning,especially around the front legs. Furbuyers pay less for pelts with holesin them.

Fleshing otter pelts is difficult.Unless the person is experiencedwith a fleshing knife, the peltsshould be frozen after skinning andsold green, without fleshing anddrying. Thaw the skins just beforetaking them to a dealer. If you areexperienced and want more moneyfor your pelts, flesh, stretch and drythe skin before selling it.

1

23

4

23

5. Cut the center of theunderside of the tailfrom the anus all theway to the tip.

6

7

6. Cut the skin from thebackside of the hind legsand work the tail loose.

7. Then carefully skin outthe tail.

5

24

8. Cut the skin free andwork it down thebody to the frontlegs. Be especiallycareful not to cut theskin while workingthe legs free. Afterthe legs are skinned,cut the skin justabove the front feet.

9. Work carefullyaround the ears, eyesand lips until the peltis free.

98

25

To sell the skin green, roll it up, place it in a plastic bag to help preventfreezer burn and freeze it. To dry the skin, stretch it on a board, placetacks around the tail. Leave on the board until the skin is completely dry.

26

Atchison

Nodaway

Worth

Harrison

MercerPutnam

Holt

Andrew

Gentry SullivanGrundy

DaviessDeKalb

Buchanan ClintonCaldwell Livingston

Linn

Platte

Clay RayCarroll

Chariton

Audrain

Adair

Schuyler Scotland

Knox

Clark

Lewis

Shelby Marion

MonroeRandolph

Ralls

Boone

Howard

Macon

Lincoln

Pike

Mont-gomery

CallawayWarren St. Charles

St. Louis

Franklin

Crawford

Washington

Ste.Genevieve

St. Francois

Osage

Maries

Cole

Jefferson

Dent

Phelps

Reynolds

MadisonIron

Wayne

Gas

con

ade

Bollinger

CapeGirardeau

Scott

Miss-issippiStoddard

New Madrid

Pemiscot

Butler

Carter

RipleyOregon

Shannon

Texas

Howell

Douglas

OzarkTaney

Christian

WebsterWright

StoneBarry

LawrenceGreene

McDonald

Newton

Jasper

DadeBarton

Cedar

PolkDallas Laclede

Vernon

St. ClairHickory

Camden

Henry

Bates

Pulaski

MillerBenton

Morgan

Moniteau

Cooper

PettisJohnsonCass

JacksonLafayette

Saline

Dunklin

Perry

Administrative OfficeP.O. Box 180 (zip 65102)2901 W. Truman Blvd.Jefferson City 65109573/751-4115Fax: 573/751-4467

Missouri Department of Conservation Regional Offices

Northwest701 N.E. College DriveSt. Joseph 64507816/271-3100Fax: 816/271-3107

Northeast2500 S. HalliburtonKirksville 63501660/785-2420Fax: 660/785-2553

Kansas City3424 N.W. Duncan RoadBlue Springs 64015816/655-6250Fax: 816/655-6256

Web address: www.conservation.state.mo.us

For help withnuisance wildlifeproblems, call theregional office inyour area.

Central1907 Hillcrest DriveColumbia 65201573/884-6861Fax: 573/882-9807

St. Louis2360 Highway DSt. Charles 63304636/441-4554Fax: 636/926-9125

Southwest2630 N. MayfairSpringfield 65803417/895-6880Fax: 417/895-6910

Ozark551 Joe Jones Blvd.P.O. Box 138West Plains 65775417/256-7161Fax: 417/256-0429

Southeast2302 County Park Dr.Cape Girardeau 63701573/290-5730Fax: 573/290-5736

27

Notes

28

Notes

PLS05212/2002