With an awareness of otter problems on large lakes, i.e. defecating in boathouses, we were eagerly waiting for an opportunity to put our Comstock cage traps to use and live trap an otter or two. We just needed to break the ice as it were. Once otter pick a locale as a toilet, the results are pretty gross as you can see. What is pictured is the norm, black goop everywhere. You will notice all the black, slimy, otter feces on the deck and on the boat. Much more are covered by the traps. Otter feces often looks like a circle of black with a yellow snot like material in the center. The boat had been lying flat, but we tipped it up to make room for the traps, which fit like a glove in the remaining opening.
Set for just two nights, on the second night we connected with a nice large otter, a good twenty pounds or more, no doubt a male. We would like to thank Dave Vinke in Washington who provided the necessary help to first give us the confidence with the know how to make this possible. I know we wouldn’t have done it without Dave. Though our set up was a bit different than what Dave usually does, the idea and outcome were the same.
As happy as we are with the cage traps and as good as they have worked for more than 7 years, I can’t help but remember the New York State Otter Restoration Project I participated in, in the late 90’s. At that time we caught otter in small foot traps with offset jaws, which was not an easy task, very stressful. I only wish we had the traps we are now using back when. It would have made a world of difference in so many ways. At least those who now trap otter live for zoos and study enjoy the ease in catching we never had. One trapper in Illinois should be coming out with a report of his success using Comstock Swim Through Cage Traps shortly.
