A group of pesky river otters have devastated fish populations at the Kootenay Trout Hatchery over the past few months, after the otters discovered a moat that runs alongside the hatchery.
The Kootenay Trout Hatchery and Visitor Centre is located along the Wardner Fort Steele Road in the Bull River area. They rear millions of baby trout each year to enhance recreational fishing.
Hatchery Manager Owen Schoenberger says he91裸聊视频檚 not entirely sure where the river otters are coming from, but suspects that they may have travelled from Norbury Creek and across the parking lot to the hatchery.
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91裸聊视频淲e first saw them [otters] back in February; one of our staff saw five of them swimming in the moat here at the hatchery,91裸聊视频� explained Schoenberger. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e lost quite a few fish. At one time we had 200 fish [in the moat] that were up to 15 lbs, and now we91裸聊视频檙e down to around 50 fish.91裸聊视频�
He adds that the otters have also gotten into the hatchery91裸聊视频檚 stocked fishing pond, where families and new anglers practice their skills and learn how to fish.
91裸聊视频淭he moat and the pond are big attractions, people love to come to learn to fish and feed the fish, but the fish have been a bit shy since the otter attacks,91裸聊视频� Schoenberger said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 fairly noticeable as well, a lot of the fish have scars on them, especially on their dorsal fins, which I think is what the otters are using to catch them.91裸聊视频�
He adds that he and the team at the hatchery have done all they can do try and deter the otters from stealing the prized fish.
91裸聊视频淭he fact is that otters are good swimmers and good at catching fish,91裸聊视频� Schoenberger said. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e blocked off some of the access to the moat, and installed fish proof panels so they can91裸聊视频檛 drag the fish out, but the otters can still get in. We had successfully blocked them off for a while, but they figured it out. They were getting in through the pipe to the moat, so we91裸聊视频檝e blocked that off as well.91裸聊视频�
Schoenberger says that he has consulted both Biologists and Conservation Officers, however they are not in favour of relocating the otters.
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91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e holding our own. The Biologists and Conservation Officers suggested we remove the fish from the moat to deter the otters from coming back, but it hasn91裸聊视频檛 come to that yet,91裸聊视频� explained Schoenberger. 91裸聊视频淭he otters can91裸聊视频檛 be much more aggressive than they have been. Hopefully they move on.91裸聊视频�
He says that over the past weekend there were three otters spotted in the nearby creek. The hatchery also has a wildlife camera set up, which tells them the otters have been hunting early in the morning and at night.
91裸聊视频淟ast year we had some mink that came through, but they didn91裸聊视频檛 do any damage,91裸聊视频� Schoenberger said. 91裸聊视频淭hese otters are just doing what otters do. We91裸聊视频檝e had problems with otters in the past, but this is the most persistent group and the first loss of significant numbers.91裸聊视频�
corey.bullock@kimberleybulletin.com
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