Off topic but encountered while fishing

[Huntindave McCann]

I got thoroughly cussed out this morning.

This guy was NOT happy that I was in his fishing hole. He came up behind me, crawled up onto the floating debris and proceeded to loudly "chirp" "chirp" "chirp" at me. Turn up the volume and zoom in a bit when you watch the video. This is the first time I have ever heard any vocalizations from a River Otter. It was a loud sharp repeated "chirp"

The second video is a few minutes later and a few yards upstream. Again zoom in as needed to get a clear view of what's happening. Sorry it is so shaky, I was holding my phone in one hand and running my trolling motor in the other.
Pretty neat experience to witness.

 

[Michael McCord1]

I came upon a family of otters while wade fishing about 15 years ago. When I climbed onto their rock pile, the adults started growling and I conceded the spot.

 

[Eric Patterson]

Dave

He thought you were going to take his catfish after he worked so hard setting the trot line.

 

[RM Anderson]

Otters are very beautiful and fascinating animals. I once witnessed two otters playing one late fall day during deer season.
RM

 

[Steve Sanford]

I got thoroughly cussed out this morning.

This guy was NOT happy that I was in his fishing hole. He came up behind me, crawled up onto the floating debris and proceeded to loudly "chirp" "chirp" "chirp" at me. Turn up the volume and zoom in a bit when you watch the video. This is the first time I have ever heard any vocalizations from a River Otter. It was a loud sharp repeated "chirp"

The second video is a few minutes later and a few yards upstream. Again zoom in as needed to get a clear view of what's happening. Sorry it is so shaky, I was holding my phone in one hand and running my trolling motor in the other.
Pretty neat experience to witness.

Dave~

Excellent! One of the best "side effects" of many outdoor pursuits is that they are...outdoors! (On theother hand, we were all inside Saturday night when a Black Bear came to our back door.) Always lots to savor beyond the "target species".

I enjoyed hearing the Northern Yellowthroats as well as a Marsh Wren. Could not ID the other birds - that were no doubt lured in by the trolling motor.

All the best,

SJS

 

[Huntindave McCann]

I enjoyed hearing the Northern Yellowthroats as well as a Marsh Wren.

Steve, I was more intrigued by the vocalizations made by the river otter. I have never heard them vocalize before this encounter. What has been your experience concerning river otter vocalizations or lack thereof?

 

[benp]

I hear them all the time when I hunt our property that has a swamp going through it. Early morning wood duck hunts are very common to have chirping and splashing before shooting time. It can be real startle-some when it's dark and all of a sudden there is a splash and chirping 10 yards away from out of nowhere.

 

[Rick Hall]

One of my al-time favorite animal encounters was with an otter spotted while bass fishing a Louisiana marsh. Was still writing outdoors stuff and had a now extinct SLR along, so I swapped to 400mm glass, lay down in the boat and tried slipping closer with the trolling motor. Then lost track of the otter, no matter how hard I scanned the water through the camera's lens. Finally gave up and took a peek over the side without the camera and found the otter practically in my face studying me.

Never did get a good shot of it, just a neat memory.

 

[Huntindave McCann]

Never did get a good shot of it, just a neat memory.

This occurs all to often with various subjects.

 

[roy brewington]

My Big River blind is located directly in front of a beaver lodge built into an old tump. The boat hide behind blind literally touch's part of lodge. I,ll routinely have Beavers returning to lodge just before legal shooting hrs. Sometimes swimming under blind legs as its on 4x4,s over water. Being real quiet early we can here them making a cooing sound in lodge once they've returned. By the way the blind location was there long before we got beavers on the river. They,ve only showed up in past 20 years.

 

[Vince Pagliaroli]

When I fly fished Big Pine Creek in PA, especially in the gorge I'd often encounter families of of River Otters. Many times they were vocal and when I caught a fish they always paid attention. I have seen them here in western NY yet not in close proximity as in PA. Between the Otters and GB Herons they show me where to fish.

 

[Steve Sanford]

Steve, I was more intrigued by the vocalizations made by the river otter. I have never heard them vocalize before this encounter. What has been your experience concerning river otter vocalizations or lack thereof?

Dave~

I've had just a few brief encounters with Otters - one of which "stole" a friend's downed Wood Duck. Lots of great visits with Mink. However, I have never heard either species.

Almost 30 years ago now, I heard what I (wrongfully) assumed was an Otter on our farm. I immediately thought "Mustelid" and then set out - on snowshoes - to solve the mystery. It turned out that the call was made by a Fisher - or maybe two. I watched a pair - mated together - and finally got within about 30 yards. I will tell the whole tale at another time.

As others have noted here, Beavers offer close encounters commonly when gunning - especially long before shooting time. In addition to the tail slaps and the "mewing", more than once I have had them chewing on the other end of the fallen Willow or Cottonwood upon which I was sitting.

Here is more proof that gunning vessels often attract unexpected - and sometimes VERY vocal - visitors.



All the best,

SJS