How to Capture a River Otter – Netting a River Otter
For many who have never seen one, the most logical answer to the question of how to capture a River Otter is with a net. If you were to take a two hundred pound River Otter off the streets of North Dakota, I’m sure you could probably catch it with a net.
If you want to learn how to capture a River Otter, the general rule of thumb is do not try to handle it. However, that is just my opinion. I live in Northern Minnesota and have caught River Otters with our fishing gear when we were trying to keep it under hand when in need of it.
It really doesn’t matter where you live, you will be subject to the rules of the local wildlife authorities, the most common being the closure of a specific part of the river. However, if you live in a part of the country where you don’t have that many rules, then there are just as many ways to get around them. It really depends on where you live and how common you are.
For instance, in Iowa, you don’t need a license to fish a river. A Missouri resident can go to a Missouri river without a license and catch a River Otter. If you’ve been fishing for years, chances are the waters are so clean that there isn’t a lot to catch.
Another option you have if you live in a country where the river otter is a rare species is by netting it. This method does have the benefit of cutting down on the trophy hunters in that area. The net will actually act as a biological filter to protect the creature from other predators such as the cougar and bear. The net itself will provide camouflage for the otter which makes it easier to keep it hidden from its predators.
I have a couple of River Otterstories that I’d like to share with you. One, a lot of folks, myself included, where very upset after catching a River Otter. Apparently they lived in a subdivision and someone was trying to take a photo of it.
The ranger who was charged with searching for the River Otter after it escaped from its pen and ran away from us, was very upset. However, he told me the animal escaped after it had been hit with a hammer by a friend of his. At that point, the only thing he knew about the animal was that it was a female River Otter and would need a big home.