In small bodies of water like fishing ponds, however, the damage they cause to property and pond ecosystems is enough to enrage homeowners. Although their reintroduction in Missouri has been relatively successful, otter populations nationwide remain in varying states of rehabilitation, with different states experiencing varying degrees of success.
Overall, efforts in Missouri have saved the species locally, and much has been learned about what must be done in the future, but the effort to restore populations are far from finished.
Hamilton, Dave. Raesly, Elaine J. Wildlife Society Bulletin, volume Pictures courtesy of Dmitry Azovtsev at Wikipedia. Your email address will not be published. Otters help control aquatic prey populations. They often prey on types of animals that are most available. Otters and other animals that live in both aquatic and land environments play roles in both aquatic and land ecosystems.
North American River Otter. Field Guide Aquatic Invertebrates. Butterflies and Moths. Land Invertebrates. Reptiles and Amphibians. Trees, Shrubs and Woody Vines. Wildflowers, Grasses and Other Nonwoody Plants.
Scientific Name. Today, found in all major watersheds throughout the state. Habitat and Conservation River otters live in streams, rivers, and lakes usually bordered by forest. Status A century ago, otters were nearly eliminated in Missouri because of unregulated harvest. Life Cycle Life Cycle. Control Otter Control. Human Connections Otters are playful, and people enjoy watching their antics.
Otter fur is thick, glossy, and luxurious, making it a valuable commodity. Ecosystem Connections Otters help control aquatic prey populations. They are eaten by bobcats, coyotes, and other large predators. Signs and Tracks Signs and Tracks Image. Signs and Tracks. Other notes: Larger than mink tracks. Tail often leaves marks. Distance between track clusters is 18—30 inches loping.
The webbing between toes can leave a print in soft mud. Webbing is usually hard to see and is not distinctive as it is in beaver. The belly often drags in sand or snow. Otters create long slides 8 or more inches wide, in mud or snow, on sloped river banks. Otters also slide when traveling away from water, primarily on snow. In this case, tracks will be interspersed with long belly slides. Often travel in groups: bachelor males, and females with litters.
Otters habitually roll around in grass, making flattened areas, but also collecting and clumping up vegetation into little mounds.
These are commonly also latrine sites. About six years ago, the otters were causing so much damage that Patton applied for a nuisance animal control permit from the Missouri Department of Conservation. The permit allows him to trap and kill otters that were taking over his dock. Over the past six years, Patton has removed several dozen otters, under the guidance of MDC. Wild otters, which are native to Missouri, nearly vanished in the state because of excessive hunting and trapping.
Because they are a native species, MDC began a decade-long effort from to restore wild otters across the state. Skalicky said otters were released in 43 streams and in 35 counties during that restoration effort.
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