It was stated that both otter were caught in a swift stream.

The reason I asked about direction of travel is because the speed an animal is traveling when it hits the trigger has to effect the catch position. Direction of travel is easy to determine if you know the position of the dog in relationship to direction of stream flow.

Maybe I just like to over think things.

They were moving upstream. The 330 was still pretty much in place.
No sign of trauma even where held except one little bruise on one. Easier to see mark on leather than on the carcass.
I've had the same scenario with 220 set in water. These otter would have been a pretty tight fit in a 220 but their heads and necks would have fit for sure of course.
Factory setting on the triggers no filing.

I was just curious, not like I can control whether an otter will be swimming upstream or downstream when traveling.

Nice catch.

Well the pull-out scenario seems to make the most sense they[re built like a splitting wedge and strong as iron too it's amazing how tough some of these critters are.
Here's a story about some otters defending their space: River otters attack, injure family dog in Anchorage park
www.ktuu.com/content/news/River-otters-attack...
Oct 14, 2019 · ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - An Alaska man says he rescued his family's dog from an attack by river otters in a small lake inside an Anchorage park.

Happy Thanksgiving

Have you ever watched an otter on land? They are all bunched up bouncing along the ground. Very easy to see how the trigger could be pushed with the head, have the jaw whack it behind the shoulders, and have the head extend past the opposite jaw when it stretches out.

Had a mink today in a 160 (on the bank) caught solid behind the shoulders, his head wasn't in the other jaws. I figure when the trap springs and hits that arched back, it may pull his head back away from the closing front jaws?

I'm still not buying the "push their heads out" story.

You say the 330 was still pretty much in place. I can't imagine that being the case with an otter struggling to get his head out

Even if "push out" does occur, what is the probability that both these otters did it ?

Perhaps it is natural instinct for them to dive and turn around. If you picture a eagle swooping down on one that is exactly what they do. Those jokers are fast.

x2 with white on 220s id rather see a neck thorax catch! Doa every time very little if any struggle. The thought of them powering out could be bad news for conis.The big trap club don't apply to otter trapping

The one I caught this morning did not get it's head out. It was going downstream with swift current. I have triggers off to the side on top in an L shape to avoid some pesky muskrats from springing my traps. I still get a lot of rats with this trigger configuration and many otter are neck caught like the one I caught yesterday. Sorry, I do not have a good theory on the ones not suitcased with the head out of the jaws.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU ALL!!

Pulling head out? Of belisles? I don’t think it is possible. Belisles are not a run of the mill conibear.

This I believe...

Not getting their heads back out of a Belisle. It was the angle they went in.

Belisle traps have cheap steel in the jaws and they bend easier than LDL's or Sauvageaus.One reason they are a less expensive trap.
With the jaws held open by a catch on an otters chest,pushing his tapered head out would not be impossible.Especially if the clamping force has been compromised from bent jaws.

My theory is he missed all the otters on land since his traps were in the water.

Who gives a shoot as long as you got him humanely without any pelt damage??????

I don't believe they pulled out...jmo...
Others can have theirs.

I noticed a lot of my 160 BMIs have curved jaws from repeated catches. A slight curved jaw is really enhanced when its cracked open a bit from a catch.

I have had 330s bent significantly from otters which refused to remain suitcased.

I think a good portion of this mystery is that otters are pretty darned strong, torpedo shaped, and just plain slippery when wet. I often wondered if they bench press the jaws off of their necks.

I don't know.....I just remember seeing the same thing years ago with an otter in a 220 and decided it had to have pulled it's head out. In that case the springs were not even fully up the sides of the jaws because the otters' torso was holding them open a little....These traps were not deep and there may have been a lot of up and down 'humping it' up the little fast creek.
I've got some traps set deeper in slow water we'll see how the hold looks if they connect.