Watermelon sized hole (cave) in pond bank

[JTO]

He asked for legal tips.
I'm pretty sure that trapping an otter would not be legal, no matter how unwelcome it is.
Personally, I'd be pleased and proud to have an otter take up residence in any pond of mine.

It is OK to trap otters as long as they are released alive within the same area, IE outside the fence. A local fishery operator got 6 months in jail for dispatching an otter that was caught in a trap.
I guess he also lost his gun licenses.

 

[shakey jake]

It is OK to trap otters as long as they are released alive within the same area, IE outside the fence. A local fishery operator got 6 months in jail for dispatching an otter that was caught in a trap.
I guess he also lost his gun licenses.

that sounds like a sensible rule,glad the guy got done, we need more enforcment of wildlife crimes

 

[old keeper]

He asked for legal tips.
I'm pretty sure that trapping an otter would not be legal, no matter how unwelcome it is.
Personally, I'd be pleased and proud to have an otter take up residence in any pond of mine.

A friend of mine has two ponds, one with very large koi in it, the other has a mixture of the usual coarse fish, some running to good size. He has been visited by otters over the past two months; the fish have gone, and so have the otters.

Surprisingly, he was neither pleased nor proud to have otters on his land!

 

[shakey jake]

A friend of mine has two ponds, one with very large koi in it, the other has a mixture of the usual coarse fish, some running to good size. He has been visited by otters over the past two months; the fish have gone, and so have the otters.

Surprisingly, he was neither pleased nor proud to have otters on his land!

did he talk to the people that fenced the ponds?

 

[JTO]

A friend of mine has two ponds, one with very large koi in it, the other has a mixture of the usual coarse fish, some running to good size. He has been visited by otters over the past two months; the fish have gone, and so have the otters.

Surprisingly, he was neither pleased nor proud to have otters on his land!

Unlike Sir Brian May re badgers.

 

[VSS]

A friend of mine has two ponds, one with very large koi in it, the other has a mixture of the usual coarse fish, some running to good size. He has been visited by otters over the past two months; the fish have gone, and so have the otters.

Surprisingly, he was neither pleased nor proud to have otters on his land!

Depends if you're interested in fish, I guess.
A koi is just a glorified goldfish, and a non native species at that, whereas an otter is a shy and elusive British wild mammal that's making a comeback after years of persecution had taken it to the brink of extinction. Faced with a choice between otters and koi, I'd far rather have otters.

 

[old keeper]

Depends if you're interested in fish, I guess.
A koi is just a glorified goldfish, and a non native species at that, whereas an otter is a shy and elusive British wild mammal that's making a comeback after years of persecution had taken it to the brink of extinction. Faced with a choice between otters and koi, I'd far rather have otters.

Horses for courses, I suppose! Two local commercial fishing ponds have had to close, again, because of the otters. Fencing was an impossibility due to the location, but for one owner, this was a bit of a disaster and has cost him a substantial slice of his income. Again, rather like foxes, it depends very much on your own circumstances as to how you view the activities of predators.

 

[Cootmeurer]

Depends if you're interested in fish, I guess.
A koi is just a glorified goldfish, and a non native species at that, whereas an otter is a shy and elusive British wild mammal that's making a comeback after years of persecution had taken it to the brink of extinction. Faced with a choice between otters and koi, I'd far rather have otters.

One could say the same about livestock. They are glorified domesticated animals from the middle east, non native to the British isles (unless maybe you have an aurochs or two). By this standard it should be fine to rewild species such as bears and wolves and lynx to savage your herds.

I’ve dealt with otters and while they are entertaining they are also extremely destructive and a agressive predator. They don’t cull the sick and weak. Often a family group finds a pond fat with fish and rapes it until the only thing left is injured/wounded fish, or those too small to catch. Then they move on to the next fat target. We have also lost ducks to them. We are allowed to trap them here in the states (although they are CITES protected so they require tagging after being reduced to possession).

I have a stocked pond that I’ve put as much time and effort into as my pastures. The fish I’ve stocked and fed and raised are for sport, enjoyment, and food. When the odd mink or heron shows and take a s fish or two, I am fine with that. Should otters show, I will not be fine with that.

 

[lambic]

All mink should be culled on sight n the UK. All mustelids can be problematic but at least the otters is native.

Apparently if otters present, you won't see any mink as they get displaced.

This year have have had little grebes, countless herons, an osprey and now an otter. Easy meals I guess.