Fishing is usually done at night, and the otters can help fishermen catch as many as 26 pounds of fish, crabs and shrimp. "The otters manage to spot fish among the plants, then the fish … River otters mostly eat fish. Finding fish and other aquatic menu items can be difficult when waterways are frozen. They live near the water and catch fish there. A rare, centuries-old fishing techniques relies on partnership between humans and otters. In winter, otters spend more time near streams and rivers where the current often maintains open water. Otters in fish hatcheries, stocked ponds, or private waterways can wreak havoc in a short amount of time. Forgot to ask at the LGS today if they had any trappers as regular customers. Not for nothing do fishermen put increasingly more powerful engines on their boats. Otter waste can also be an issue around a home or business. A Bangladeshi fisherman releases his otter to catch fish in Narail, March 11, 2014. They have also been known to eat aquatic plants and to prey on other small mammals, such as muskrats or rabbits.They have a very high metabolism, so they need to eat frequently. Bangladeshi otters wait as their fishermen owners prepare to catch fish in Narail, March 11, 2014. Since fish are what otters focus on, to catch them otters learn how to be at the right place at the right time to catch them. Fishermen in Bangladesh use train otters to efficiently catch fish in the country's muddy rivers. They normally do not encounter cats or dogs in the wild, except coyotes or wolves. The otters don't catch the fish themselves, but they drive them into the nets cast by the fishermen. River otters eat a variety of aquatic wildlife, such as fish, crayfish, crabs, frogs, birds’ eggs, birds and reptiles such as turtles. Otters are in season right now, just need to get the hides sealed if they are going out of state. If you’re trying to get rid of an otter, you can forget about using repellents and decoys. The coyote or wolf are always looking for a meal, but they are too slow to catch an otter and too big to be eaten by an otter. Otter Diseases: Otters are a surprising vector for many animal-to-animal diseases, only a few of which are transmissible to humans. Otters manage by being the high tempo, agile, yet methodical animal that's such a pleasure to watch. Otters are too curious and intelligent by nature to be alarmed by a decoy. The otters do not catch the fish themselves, instead they chase them towards the fishing net placed next to the boat. Not up to shooting them since I wouldn't eat them. Only traps I have around here are crawfish pots that do a great job catching bait sized bluegills. How to Get Rid of Otters in a Pond, Lake, or any other Water - Otters eat a lot of fish and they jump at the opportunity to invade private hatcheries or stocked ponds. But the partnership between man and otter is … Diet.