By Cory Boothe
Coryboothe@hotmail.com
"Did you see that? What was in its mouth? Was that a giant mink?" Those questions are currently being asked by the sportsmen of West Virginia. The culprit is back in town. After an absence of over 50 years,otters are back for good.
Otters are members of the weasel family and can attain a length of five feet and a weight of 20-some pounds. They are carnivores and can eat over 4 pounds of fish a day. While this is of great concern for the angler, most of these fish are suckers and carp. However, it is noted that otters can catch muskies, the largest predator in the fish world of central West Virginia.
Otters left the waterways of West Virginia in the early 20th century due to pollution of streams and excessive trapping. The state of West Virginia began stocking otters back into the state around 1984. These animals were trapped in other states and brought to us.
Fast forward to 2011 and the trappers of West Virginia experienced the first otter season since 1924. 206 otters were taken in our great state. Locally, Gilmer County had the second highest harvest in the state with 12 otters being taken. Only Greenbrier County topped Gilmer, with a harvest of 26 otters. Ritchie and Wood County also had ten otters taken.
Some people love and welcome otters. Others wish they never returned to our waters. No matter how you feel, these eating machines are here to stay.
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