Keeping otters out of boathouse

[Sinclair]

We have struggled with unwanted otter "presents" in our boathouse for quite some time. It can get very frustrating: the smell, having to scrape the stuff off the boathouse floor.

The previous owner was so frustrated he sat in a hide all night with a gun. No comment on whether that was a good idea, but at least the otters figured it out and no shots were fired.

We tried leaving a boom box running all the time. This worked for several weeks but they figured it out and went back to their old habits.

We've now installed a PestZilla animal repellant, which is an alarm and strobe light attached to a motion sensor. Surprisingly for such a simple solution, it has totally cured our problem.

But knowing these animals to be loath to give up, does anyone have any suggestions for a more robust solution?

Thank you!

[upthesaukee]

You can try a wildlife exterminator. They can trap and relocate in many cases.

Here is one. I do know the owner personally, but have never used his service. Contact Scott at:

Http://estatewildlifecontrol.com

If he can't help you, I'm sure he will try to advise you on what to do.

Dave

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[FWF]

We have the same problem, nothing has seemed to work. This winter we ran fencing around the top of the boat slip in the boathouse on the deck and that has kept them out. A good solution for the winter, but I’m sure they will be back when we take the fencing down when the boat goes in......Any chance you are in Alton Bay and we can share the trapper in their territory?


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[Lakeboater]

We have the same problem, nothing has seemed to work. This winter we ran fencing around the top of the boat slip in the boathouse on the deck and that has kept them out. A good solution for the winter, but I’m sure they will be back when we take the fencing down when the boat goes in......Any chance you are in Alton Bay and we can share the trapper in their territory?


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His location says wolfeboro but if you were on the east side maybe it would work

[tis]

Dwight Pennell in Tuftonboro is a trapper. I am not sure if he traps otters. His number is a 539- number.

[Biggd]

Are there any otters? :emb: That's an otter joke.:D

[TiltonBB]

Just otters? Do you have trouble with any other creatures taking up residence in the boathouse?

I had a big problem with birds and they would perch on lights or ceiling beams and leave their droppings all over the boat. It only occurs for the first month or so of the season.

The overhead door in the boathouse comes down to about a foot above the water at the spring water level and they would just fly under it. I finally made a wood beam with lattice attached that goes across the opening below the door and hangs down and blocks their access. It only has to stay there until mid June. I assume that by then the birds have found another place to hang around.

[Barney Bear]

In the spring, we have had robins build nests on the beams under our porch roof. To prevent this, we install pieces of wood to fill these ledge areas. If a nest has been built prior to opening our place on East Bear Island, we do not disturb it. When no longer needed, we remove the nest. 🐻

[ITD]

Are there any otters? :emb: That's an otter joke.:D

Why I otter...

[tis]

Are there any otters? :emb: That's an otter joke.:D


:laugh:I like that. It made me laugh each time I looked at it..

[Sinclair]

We have the same problem, nothing has seemed to work. This winter we ran fencing around the top of the boat slip in the boathouse on the deck and that has kept them out. A good solution for the winter, but I’m sure they will be back when we take the fencing down when the boat goes in......Any chance you are in Alton Bay and we can share the trapper in their territory?


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Yes we are in Wolfeboro.

It's interesting your fencing solution worked. We had been thinking about something similar but received wisdom was that they'll get through anything. If things get really bad, I'd be interested to run netting to the ground inside the bays and have a mechanized way of running it to ground in front of the bay doors. If the otters aren't too persistent, this might convince them to look elsewhere.

So far we've had four good months with the little motion sensor / annoying sound box. We're lucky in that the otters always do their business in the same place, which apparently is a known behavior. Putting the box in that area has really spooked them.

As a second tactic, I've considered cleaning the floor in that area with Pine Sol. The Internet says that keeps them away too -- they prefer areas that have their smell, and Pine Sol apparently repulses them.

I'd be very interested to see if the motion sensor box works for you. Would build conviction it will continue working in the future.

[rander7823]

This thread is otterly ridiculous

[Biggd]

This thread is otterly ridiculousI like it. We need some otters.

[Sinclair]

Just a quick update for anyone who is also struggling with otters (or wants an excuse to post more puns):

We initially started with a radio (on 24 hours a day) and the animal motion detector. This worked for about two months, but then they returned. Moving the motion sensor (not necessarily closer to where they like to go, just for surprise) bought us another month. In the last month we turned off the radio and moved the motion sensor right where they like to go, and so far we've had no incursions.

I spoke with our pest control fellow. He said he knows a specialist and will do some research, but in general trapping doesn't work because the otter population is too large.

[Grant]

We have struggled with unwanted otter "presents" in our boathouse for quite some time. It can get very frustrating: the smell, having to scrape the stuff off the boathouse floor.

The previous owner was so frustrated he sat in a hide all night with a gun. No comment on whether that was a good idea, but at least the otters figured it out and no shots were fired.

We tried leaving a boom box running all the time. This worked for several weeks but they figured it out and went back to their old habits.

We've now installed a PestZilla animal repellant, which is an alarm and strobe light attached to a motion sensor. Surprisingly for such a simple solution, it has totally cured our problem.

But knowing these animals to be loath to give up, does anyone have any suggestions for a more robust solution?

Thank you!

We had them for years. Most of the activity took place during the offseason, which made the cleanup doubly hard, because all those fish scale-loaded poops had fused to the dock. They also loved pulling down and pooping on orange PFD vests! Very strange. A few times, I *just* missed the culprit, coming into the boathouse to find fresh scat and fresh wet foot & tail prints.

One year, we had a beaver problem under the boathouse (crib dock). That was annoying, but it was fun to see the beaver around now and then.

Never did figure out that otter problem...now the house is someone else's.

[FWF]

The top deck fencing worked this winter. Now that it’s down I’m sure they will return, but it was nice not having to deal with their “mess” and smell all winter......


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[Sinclair]

The top deck fencing worked this winter. Now that it’s down I’m sure they will return, but it was nice not having to deal with their “mess” and smell all winter......


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What do you mean by "top deck fencing?" Did you put a fence around your boat bays? How did you secure it to the floor?

Thank you so much!

[FWF]

This is how I fenced them out, it worked last year and so far this year as well. It’s nice not having that smell in the boathouse...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181029/59079cc4135877ab03751049248037cf.jpg


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