For more than 50 years, no river otter called Indiana home.
But since being reintroduced in 1995 at Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge just east of Seymour, the animals have thrived. In 2005, they were removed from the state’s endangered species list.
Visitors to the refuge can see otters any time of year, diving into the water, rolling around on a snowy river bank or lazily basking in the sun on a log.
In two decades time, the population has grown so much that state wildlife officials now say there might be an overabundance of river otters, and they have begun to cause problems for some landowners.
“River otters are an important part of our natural environment; but as their numbers increase, so do conflicts with private pond owners and other fishery related interests,” said Shawn Rossler, a furbearer specialist with the state Department of Natural Resources Division of Fish and Wildlife.
The state has proposed a limited trapping season for river otters in 2015 and to allow for the sale of river otter furs.
“A closely managed, highly regulated trapping season is the best option to bring the needs of the public in balance with wildlife,” Rossler said.
It hasn’t been determined where trapping would be permitted, but river otter populations have been identified in most Hoosier counties, said Phil Bloom, director of communications for the DNR.
He said the animals are found in 74 of 92 counties now.
James Schneider, who lives southwest of Tampico near the Muscatatuck River, said he sees many otters when he goes duck hunting in the area. He said he has counted upward of 16 otters at one time in one place.
One of DNR’s main responsibilities is protecting and managing wildlife and that includes population control, Bloom said.
The otter reintroduction has been a successful program in Indiana, Bloom added, but it’s up to the state to maintain it.
As the numbers of otters in the state increase, wildlife managers must find a balance between keeping a healthy population of the species and preventing conflicts with people.
Complaints rising
Otters populate areas near rivers, lakes, ponds and streams to have a plentiful food source of fish, turtles, frogs and crayfish. But if too many otters are in an area, they can deplete it of those resources.
“That becomes a problem, especially for commercial fish hatcheries and private fishing areas, where there is a real financial or recreational investment,” Bloom said.
The number of complaints about otters rose from 69 in 2012 to 86 last year.
Currently, river otters cannot be hunted in Indiana unless a nuisance wild animal control permit is issued. In 2012, the state granted 11 such permits to property owners. That number nearly doubled in 2013 to 21, Bloom said.
Sometimes otters are accidentally caught in traps for other animals and they must be turned over to the DNR.
Another sign of overpopulation is an increase in the number of river otters that are being hit and killed on roads by vehicles.
“We are seeing more river otter roadkill, and that’s more evidence of a large population,” Bloom said.
Schneider said otters can be aggressive and do a lot of damage, adding, “They can clean a farm pond out.”
If approved here, trapping would be allowed only in counties where otter populations have reached a certain threshold. Trappers would be able to harvest only two otters each season, Bloom said.
Don Walker of Seymour said he fishes at the refuge and enjoys watching the river otters play, but he also sees how they could become a problem.
“It appears that they can totally clean out small streams, lakes and even the river of fish,” he said. “They are not at risk from predators, and they are protected; so they are allowed to do as they please. The little guys are cute, but as with all wildlife they will reproduce and eat lots.”
300 animals reintroduced
Schneider said he is in favor of an otter trapping season. But he also said he can understand why some people might be against it.
“There were people who helped pay to get the otters here, so I can see why they wouldn’t want it,” he said. “It was a pretty big deal back then.”
Otters were once a native species to Indiana but were eliminated by heavy trapping and loss of habitat.
Bloom said the otter reintroduction was part of the state’s wildlife diversity program, which also brought back bald eagles, peregrine falcons and osprey, all of which at one time were endangered in Indiana.
The reintroduction program was funded by the DNR’s Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Fund, which operates on contributions taxpayers voluntarily make on their state income tax form. In all, more than 300 otters were released in 12 locations during a five-year period across the state.
The otters were brought up from Louisiana, where they were caught by trappers.
“All of our research indicates that there is a healthy population of otters here now,” he said.
With a legal trapping season established, the state would be able to collect biological information from those animals caught, similar to how the department monitors deer.
Alejandro Galvan, manager of Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge, said he too supports the state’s proposal for trapping in areas where the otter population warrants it.
‘Enjoy watching them’
Currently, no trapping is allowed on refuge property.
“We do not survey the river otter population, so I cannot give an exact number; but they are very common on the refuge, and populations are healthy,” he said. “At this point we have no indication that there is an overpopulation at the refuge.”
But according to information he has received from the state DNR biologist, Jackson County’s river otter population would warrant a trapping program, he said.
“Controlled trapping in surrounding areas could limit the influx of otters into the refuge, which could prevent the refuge from becoming overpopulated,” he said.
The refuge has no problems with the otters living there, Galvan said, but because it is a federal agency, it has no jurisdiction over populations of otters living elsewhere.
“Any complaints would go to the state DNR, so I have no information on problems caused by otters in the surrounding area,” he said.
Otters living at the refuge are a popular attraction, he added.
“All comments about river otters here have been positive,” he said. “People really enjoy watching them.”
Bloom said other states, including Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Ohio, Missouri and West Virgina, that have thriving river otter populations have taken similar measures by making limited trapping legal. A limited harvest will not negatively impact the state’s otter population, he added.
No decision soon
The proposal is still under review by the Natural Resources Commission. Once it has received a preliminary adoption from the commission, a public comment period and public hearing will be conducted.
A judge will then write up a report and send a recommendation to the commission.
The process could take up to one year to complete, and the earliest a river otter trapping season would occur is 2015-16, Bloom said.
Those interested in the proposal’s progress can visit in.gov/nrc/2377.htm for updates.
Although he hasn’t done much animal trapping in the past 10 years, Schneider said he still organizes an annual fur trading event at his home for trappers to sell various furs.
He said there is a market for otter furs in other states such as Kentucky; and if trapping them were legal in Indiana, it would generate more interest here.
Otter furs are thick, lustrous and durable and can be used to make coats, boots, hats, gloves and purses.
At the North American Fur Auction in February, 11,674 otter pelts were sold at an average price of $65.46 each, making them one of the top-selling furs.