A number of years ago, likely in the 1980s, there was a program where otter were live captured in several northern states and relocated to several southern states. I am seeking factual information on folks involved, the when and where, and especially on the traps used. Years ago I obtained a number of early Bridger coil spring traps that were made specifically for the program and am attempting to document how many were made and used.

In the 1980s Iowa relocated Otters from Louisiana to Iowa.

I was told The guys that trapped them here, used #11’s and number 2DLS.

We traded them for wild turkeys and ruffed grouse.

All info is useful but this was recent enough that most(some?) of the people involved should still be alive. If you can provide actual names of individuals who trapped and/or transported and who was actually paying them OR if anyone knows of a written history of the program, I sure would like to know of it.

NC traded otter to WV for turkeys. Probably in the 70s. Their turkey manager retired and N.C. hired him. Wayne Bailey. We. Now have turkey in all 100 counties thanks to relocation of those original WV turkeys and our otters.

PM varmintshooter and ask him.
He was in our F&G Dept for 30 yrs and I’m pretty sure he knows.

"captured in several northern states and relocated to several southern states."



Sounds backwards to me. I know AR traded otter to MO for turkey.

Cohunt,
Lee Roy Sevin was one guy involved. I believe he had an otter "farm", which was a holding pen area. I believe he was located in Louisiana?? Anyways, he pioneered capturing otters, and holding them long term live, to relocate, I believe. Granted this is all from memory of an article I read in the last 10-20 years? I think maybe Tom Krause wrote? Maybe just try googling the name Lee Roy Sevin?

I think Jtrap was involved in the Missouri otter program.

I believe our otters in Illinois came from Louisiana in the '70's. Trapped in #11s and No. 2 soft catches. Atleast that's what it think I remember being told.

I bet if you contact Clay Creech on here he can tell you about the Mo. otters. I have read that # 11's were used for capturing otter in Louisiana for relocation.

I lied, it was in the '90s
https://thesouthern.com/sports/outd...ed802b2-5ba6-11e2-862a-001a4bcf887a.html

I tried to find the old article but I could not. So this is from memory relating to the otters moved to Ohio. The article said the otters were trapped with toothed footholds. It said that the teeth, on the trap, kept the otters foot from sliding in the trap. The article said a puncture wound, caused with the toothed trap, healed much quicker than the abrasion caused by an otters foot sliding in an untoothed foothold.

I thank every one for the information provided. From just these posts it is apparent that there were many different state(or even local) level otter reintroductions done during the past 30 or 40 years. I am attempting to get details from several of them to determine if they may have records of the traps used. Please keep adding information if you have it. I have not yet found the program I was seeking.

I have been jogging my memory and seem to recall(may be wrong) an article in THE TRAPPER from perhaps about 1986 that detailed capture of otter for a relocation program where little #1 coils with shock springs were used. I think this is the program I am seeking info about. I no longer have the mags as I donated them to our local school library years ago. If someone remembers the article(and if I am correct where it was published) I would appreciate a reference.

id get ahold of odon corr.... if he wasnt involved.. i bet he could give you info......

Well if we got Northern otters, they did a dang good job of populating. Think about every stream, river, and pond has them. We even catch a few in cage traps every year in the pine forests. Guess they’re moving from one creek to the other and like the smell of sardines.

I doubt Georgia and Alabama ever relocated otter. Been around thick as fleas as long as I can recall.

I’m just glad they’re water dwellers mainly. I’d think long and hard about roaming the woods after dark if they weren’t. They are vicious critters in a trap.

I sent a link to this post to a guy who was involved with the Iowa stuff.