River Dog

[Rubberhead*]

I had someone in the DNR once tell me that they'd 10 times rather have to handle a rabid coyote than even a mild tempered River Otter. It changed the way I think of these, otherwise seemingly happy, animals...

[uga_dawg]

Cool pic. As long as it isn't in my pond.

I saw 3 this year from the deer stand. They came up a drainage ditch that only had an inch of water in it where I was. They walked up the ditch until they got to a deeper hole and jumped in and went to work. One of them picked me out in the climber when I was 30 ft up and he was 4 ft lower than the ground in a ditch. Have had multiple deer under me in this spot and none of them noticed me. But I guess they don't have predators that come from above.

[Islandguy85]

Just like you I would guess... If you were minding your business swimming around enjoying life and something really started messin w ya, would you be nice ? Cool critters. Dont tread on me.
Dumb fun fact, they have upwards of 1 mil hairs per sq inch, humans have 100-150k on their heads and dogs are upward of 15k/sq in


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[Lowcountry Boy]

I'm thinking about putting one through force fetch. Great size retriever for your kayak or pea row.

[Rodney]

I skinned one the othervday for a soft tan. Really awesome critter. Was my first chance to lay hands on one. The hair is so thick it's unreal. Smelled like greasy dog ass though.

[scswamprat]

I skinned one the othervday for a soft tan.

that smell though....they certainly have a muskiness about them.....a few times a year ill have whole families come pretty close, they're fun to watch..i have trapped any in years.

Good pic RH.

[Mergie Master]

that smell though....they certainly have a muskiness about them.....a few times a year ill have whole families come pretty close, they're fun to watch..i have trapped any in years.

Good pic RH.

Well the smell should be expected. Otters are Mustelidae the same family as weasels, mink, skunks, stoats, badgers and martens. The largest of that family is a wolverines. There's some bad ass dudes in that bunch.

[SCSwitchback]

Well the smell should be expected. Otters are Mustelidae the same family as weasels, mink, skunks, stoats, badgers and martens. The largest of that family is a wolverines. There's some bad ass dudes in that bunch.

Not sure about some of the others you mention, but a badger is a stankin sob. Hit one in the truck while deer hunting in Kansas several years ago and just HAD to check it out. Stinkinest thing I've ever touched. The upside was that it made a hell of a cover scent that afternoon.

[riverrat8991]

I skinned one the othervday for a soft tan. Really awesome critter. Was my first chance to lay hands on one. The hair is so thick it's unreal. Smelled like greasy dog ass though.

What the hell you feeding goose to have a greasy ass

[Rodney]

What the hell you feeding goose to have a greasy ass

Sausage, egg, and cheese McGriddles.

[WoodieSC]

I skinned one the othervday for a soft tan. Really awesome critter. Was my first chance to lay hands on one. The hair is so thick it's unreal. Smelled like greasy dog ass though.

Is the pelt and smell similar to a beaver's... the four-legged variety?

[Rodney]

Is the pelt and smell similar to a beaver's... the four-legged variety?

Its good you specified which type of beav. Smell is worse, pelt is much sleeker and nicer... than the four legged variety.

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[scswamprat]

Is the pelt and smell similar to a beaver's... the four-legged variety?

they have a diet that includes fish...ive trapped some out of a few ponds that had an overwhelming fish smell...

[DRDUCK]

That is a GREAT SHOT of a great animal.

[Catdaddy]

I've observed 5 of them swim in formation and herd the fish. All at once they would herd them to the bank and dive into the school. Every one would catch a fish.

They also show up in my little 1/4 acre pond every winter. They clean up 70% of the fish in 2-3 days. I just restock it every spring. They are too cool to harm.

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[PBiz]

They are too cool to harm.

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Cat, you know that ain't the truth...

[Catdaddy]

Cat, you know that ain't the truth...

I have always given otters a pass. I also give beavers a pass unless they are backing water up into pine timber.

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[TheVisorGuy]

They will sure enough wreck a small pond in a New York minute

[JOHNSON]

During turkey season one year, 2th and myself perched on a bluff overlooking Mill Creek and watched two otters eat no less than a dozen crawfish in about two hundred yards. They’re efficient to say the least.


G

[2thDoc]

During turkey season one year, 2th and myself perched on a bluff overlooking Mill Creek and watched two otters eat no less than a dozen crawfish in about two hundred yards. They’re efficient to say the least.


G

yep. was thinking the same thing. very cool to watch.