There Otter Be Some Solutions!

[Admin]

Many of us have had problems with otters - in our boat house, dock, deck, or swim step. Some of us have found solutions along the way. What have you found that works for you?

[gary]

Not having a boathouse or swim step limits my exposure, but I definitely have to watch where I am walking sometimes. Greg does a good job of keeping the docks clean, but the otters are full of "it". Limiting otter habitat strikes me as a helpful thing.....I am guessing our new docks will have blocking installed to keep the critters from climbing up on the floats to make a nest.

[kevbev]

We have little otter friends that we want to go away.  We have about a 3 foot high chicken wire fence around the boat well that they are managing to get over.  We tried moth balls to add a fragrance to the area that the little critters may not like.  (That didn't work)  We are playing a radio for noise and started trying the Pine Sol treatment to the wood.  (we don't know the outcome of that little trick . . . yet)  We did see something interesting on the internet under the web search for Cat fencing.  There are fence posts that are curved at the top and the cats cannot climb over them.  We are thinking about adding something like that that curves in over the water.  Does anyone have any ideas of how to keep the little varmints and their poop out of the boathouses?

[Ron]

We have used Pine Sol along our dock area with mixed results. When it is fresh the otters seem to be deterred but as the rain dilutes it or washes it away the otters return. Our dog likes to keep a look out for them and enjoys barking when they appear. They scatter back into the water when the barking starts! We might consider loaning out our dog, "Smoopy" for dog bisquits!

[grolympia]

I used the pinesol approach last year and it seemed to work--no otters after is was deployed. I put the pinesol in an open dish (under the boat cover) - full strength and left it. Pine Sol evaporated and the dish was hard to clean, but not as bad as the otter's contribution.

Full time dog is the only real long term solution. Perhaps a "hound of the basin".