Otter Population Expansion

Don Andersen · #1 10-02-2011, 07:29 AM

Folks,

Now I don't trap but do fish putting me around water a lot. I generally fish from Highway #11 south to Montana border.
In the 55 years of fishing this area I saw no otters @ all. In the past three years in the Rocky Mountain House area, I've now counted 17.
To go from "0" > 17 is quite a leap.
Are any of you experiencing the increase in otter population?

regards,

Don

lannie · #2 10-02-2011, 07:36 AM

There are many in the Crowsnest area now.

Douglas N · #3 10-02-2011, 08:45 AM

I see lots of evidence of them in/around the Clearwater river throughout the winter. There appears to be good #'s out there. No quota for them though.

northerntrapper · #4 10-02-2011, 08:31 PM

There has always been otter around the Slave Lake area, but the last 10-15 years has seen a population increase. I take a few each year.

McLeod Valley · #5 10-05-2011, 07:02 AM

Yup , I have 34 miles of river shore line in my trap line and in the last few years the numbers have really started to rise.
I can only trap one , but could easily trap many more , and sure wish I could.
They are starting to take a toll on my beaver population.

BigRackLover · #6 10-05-2011, 11:17 AM

Saw Otter's in Prairie creek this year....didn't catch any large trout....hmmm....go figure.

Please trap them!!!!

Don Andersen · #7 10-11-2011, 10:08 PM

Guys,

With the increased population of otters, how do you get an open season on trapping them?

regards,

Don

BigRackLover · #8 10-14-2011, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Andersen

Guys,

With the increased population of otters, how do you get an open season on trapping them?

regards,

Don

We all need to pull together our findings and write letters to the AFGA and others. Something has to be done. Seeing fast increases like this means they aren't on some sort of cycle.

kaleh01 · #9 10-19-2011, 11:08 AM

We own land on prairie creek in the strachan area just west of Cow Lake and in the last three or four years have started seeing too many of these critters.

I'm told, and hopefully someone can substanciate my claim, that it was actually a F&W biologist who reintroduced otters to the area. And yes as you have claimed in previous posts, more otters has without a doubt has caused a drop in larger trout numbers in prairie creek. There are still lots of fish to be had, but the big boys are nowhere to be found.

As the creek freezes up in the next month or two I will report back on sightings as every december I've seen em eating trout up on the ice in a few spots that are still open water. I hate these creatures with a passion b/c they don't even eat all that they catch, there is definately a sport aspect to it from what I've seen of them catching and only partially eating fish.

Let's get an open season or quota on them fast!

RW8888 · #10 07-20-2012, 11:50 AM

Earlier this week I decided to go back to one of my favorite fishing spots that I used to go to when I was a kid. Its been many years since fishing in Prairie Creek and I had heard about the increase in the Otter population. Well, I had been at the creek for no more than half an hour when I saw my first Otter. Over the next couple of days I had at least 10 other sightings. I'm thinking there were maybe 2 or three that I saw numerous times. I have some decent video of them on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/rdublu8888?feature=mhee.

Despite the Otters the fishing was outstanding with a number of 12" to 16" browns and a few Rocky Mountain Whitefish.

RW

Guitarplayingfish · #11 07-20-2012, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lannie

There are many in the Crowsnest area now.

x2, Seen quite a few in the last couple years.