Hey guys, I’m wondering how you guys go about finding otter sign or toilets? I’ve heard there are certain spots or features to look for? Also, I have permission to trap a spot that’s a couple hours south of me. Normally I do all my scouting in fall right before season, but I don’t go down there often, except on a weekly Trapping trip in late winter. Could I do some scouting now or would I be wasting time? I know that scouting for beaver in late summer is hard to do, are otters different? Thanks!!

Otter is one animal that I dont necessarily set on sign.
If you have good habitat for otter,which is generally created by beaver,then they will be there.otter are predictable in their travels,so locate pinch points in beaver habitat and you will catch plenty of otter.
Dont expect catches overnight.
That said otters have well used trails that they follow each time thru.
If you have culverts,look for dry land crossovers on the banks each side of the culvert.-they often prefer to cross on land than swim thru culverts,but you can catch them at culverts also.Set everything.
They also make trails at oxbows to take the shortest route.They may have several crossovers on beaver dams both old and active besides the main crossover.
Beaver channels both old and active produce otter as do sets in old beaver house entrances.
Google earth will help you locate good spots for sets on ditches and creeks.Look for creeks that connect lakes,ponds etc with a bigger river,other lakes etc,same with ditches.If they dead end they are poor choice for an otter set.
One other thing-gang set for otter,they often travel in family groups.
Once you learn to catch otter you have to be careful not to clean them all out.A few well located sets will take every otter on a watershed.
Big difference between scouting beaver and otter is that once located beaver will stay in the same general area.In winter they are confined to the pond and usually the house and feedbed.
Otter roam over great distances relative to beaver but are predictable when they show up.

Call me, Mousey Trapper.

Like Boco said, no need to set on sign for otter. Any channel that connects two bodies of water will have otter traveling it. They tend to crossover the road at culverts. They will swim between any obstruction and the bank. The good old bottom edge set will nail them. If it is a good location and there is room I always set 2-4 traps as you can get multiples. Otter are not hard to catch but I think a lot of people just don't let the traps set long enough. It might be days before you see any action. If a storm front moves through the otter will move. My best otter catches always come on the nights the rain hits.

Don't waste your time looking for otter toilets, if you find them great. But, your best success will be achieved by following "Boco"s" advice.

A high bank with softwood trees near the waters edge is a good place to look for toilets.

I would change that to evergreens

Faceing up stream .look for evergreens on the right side.