Otter ???? Off spindle point 4/28/2019

WINNI BOB · 05-01-2019, 11:31 AM

Hi;
Swear I spotted an OTTER swimming very fast out in 70' of water (the middle of the lake off Meridith/Spindle point) the other day(4/28/2019) while fishing the Weirs Beach area. I could only see the head, but it was swimming towards Meridith very fast. I've seen muskrats for years, but they are always near shore and usually at night. I have, also, seen several minks living in our breakwater for many years, but they are small, thin, and long.

This animal had a head bigger than any muskrat; probably, weighed over 20 pounds, and was extremely fast. It ended up diving, so I was not able to get close enough to get a pic or identify it as an otter. Has anyone ever seen an otter(s) in the lake????

WINNI BOB

tis · 05-01-2019, 11:47 AM

Absolutely! We have otter in the lake.

loonguy · 05-01-2019, 02:00 PM

We have had a pair of otters near our home across from the Loon Center for years. Back when we had a bubbler they loved to feed in the open space around our dock in the Winter.

boat_guy64 · 05-01-2019, 05:46 PM

We see them all of the time in Meredith Bay. (Both otters and minks) The otters seem to be around in Spring and Fall and not in the Summer. Minks are around all of the time.

WINNI BOB · 05-01-2019, 09:50 PM

Thank you for all the answers to my question as to the presence of otters in the lake. Just one more magnificent wild creature to add to my long and varied list of wildlife that I have encountered in over 55 years of experience on the lake.

WINNI BOB

upthesaukee · 05-02-2019, 05:55 AM

We have seen an otter(s) in our brook over the years, and have seen their "slides" down the snow-covered banks in the winter. Saw one running down the stream backs the other day, having toward the lake. Cool sight.

Dave

tis · 05-02-2019, 06:56 AM

My daughter and family made a hockey rink in front of the house last year and the otters thought that was wonderful. They made a hole in the middle or it melted a little to make a hole and they kept coming in and out of the hole and sliding on the ice. The first time I saw an otter it was on the land and I thought it was a great big dog's face when I saw it. We don't see them in the summer either. I wonder where they go? Out in the middle?

Grant · 05-02-2019, 10:00 AM

We had an otter who liked to toy with us.

He/she would raid our boathouse occasionally, leave a mess, and escape--usually JUST before we entered.

This happened most often in the spring, fall, and winter. Every spring, when "opening up" for the season, things would be strewn about and pooped on (with lots of fish scales). And occasionally you'd enter the boathouse to find wet tracks and fresh (rank) poop. He/she especially loved one particular orange PFD vest, which was regularly knocked down, moved, and pooped on.

But each spring you had to spend a while scraping up and washing off the scale-laden poop from the deck.

tis · 05-02-2019, 01:15 PM

Yes, I have heard it's not pretty if they get in your boathouse.

farechofisherman · 05-03-2019, 05:18 PM

Otter or beavers are in many areas of the lake.

tis · 05-03-2019, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farechofisherman

Otter or beavers are in many areas of the lake.

And we have a busy little muskrat (notice I didn't say busy beaver) making a nest in front of the house right now. We have tons of empty clam shells from the winter and I don't know if it is the mink or the muskrat.

ApS · 05-03-2019, 07:21 PM

It's easy to tell you've got mink along your shoreline...

tis · 05-04-2019, 07:08 AM

UH huh! We do! But we also have muskrats.

05-01-2019, 11:31 AM	#1
WINNI BOB Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Somerville, ma / Laconia, nh Posts: 58 Thanks: 9 Thanked 75 Times in 30 Posts	Otter ???? Off spindle point 4/28/2019 Hi; Swear I spotted an OTTER swimming very fast out in 70' of water (the middle of the lake off Meridith/Spindle point) the other day(4/28/2019) while fishing the Weirs Beach area. I could only see the head, but it was swimming towards Meridith very fast. I've seen muskrats for years, but they are always near shore and usually at night. I have, also, seen several minks living in our breakwater for many years, but they are small, thin, and long. This animal had a head bigger than any muskrat; probably, weighed over 20 pounds, and was extremely fast. It ended up diving, so I was not able to get close enough to get a pic or identify it as an otter. Has anyone ever seen an otter(s) in the lake???? WINNI BOB

05-01-2019, 05:46 PM	#4
boat_guy64 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Windham and Meredith Posts: 225 Blog Entries: 5 Thanks: 33 Thanked 89 Times in 42 Posts	Otters We see them all of the time in Meredith Bay. (Both otters and minks) The otters seem to be around in Spring and Fall and not in the Summer. Minks are around all of the time.

05-01-2019, 09:50 PM	#5
WINNI BOB Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Somerville, ma / Laconia, nh Posts: 58 Thanks: 9 Thanked 75 Times in 30 Posts	Otters in the lake Thank you for all the answers to my question as to the presence of otters in the lake. Just one more magnificent wild creature to add to my long and varied list of wildlife that I have encountered in over 55 years of experience on the lake. WINNI BOB

05-02-2019, 05:55 AM	#6
upthesaukee Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 5,597 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 2,455 Thanked 1,979 Times in 1,080 Posts	Otter in our brook We have seen an otter(s) in our brook over the years, and have seen their "slides" down the snow-covered banks in the winter. Saw one running down the stream backs the other day, having toward the lake. Cool sight. Dave __________________ I Live Here... I am always UPTHESAUKEE !!!!

05-02-2019, 10:00 AM	#8
Grant Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pennsyltuckey, Tuftonboro, Moultonborough Posts: 1,500 Thanks: 375 Thanked 230 Times in 124 Posts	Ninja Otter We had an otter who liked to toy with us. He/she would raid our boathouse occasionally, leave a mess, and escape--usually JUST before we entered. This happened most often in the spring, fall, and winter. Every spring, when "opening up" for the season, things would be strewn about and pooped on (with lots of fish scales). And occasionally you'd enter the boathouse to find wet tracks and fresh (rank) poop. He/she especially loved one particular orange PFD vest, which was regularly knocked down, moved, and pooped on. But each spring you had to spend a while scraping up and washing off the scale-laden poop from the deck. __________________ "When I die, please don't let my wife sell my dive gear for what I told her I paid for it."

05-01-2019, 11:47 AM	#2
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,719 Thanks: 752 Thanked 1,457 Times in 1,014 Posts	Absolutely! We have otter in the lake.

The Following User Says Thank You to tis For This Useful Post:
WINNI BOB (05-01-2019)

05-01-2019, 02:00 PM	#3
loonguy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Moultonborough near the Loon Center Posts: 196 Thanks: 60 Thanked 69 Times in 47 Posts	We have had a pair of otters near our home across from the Loon Center for years. Back when we had a bubbler they loved to feed in the open space around our dock in the Winter.

The Following User Says Thank You to loonguy For This Useful Post:
WINNI BOB (05-01-2019)

The Following User Says Thank You to boat_guy64 For This Useful Post:
WINNI BOB (05-01-2019)

05-02-2019, 06:56 AM	#7
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,719 Thanks: 752 Thanked 1,457 Times in 1,014 Posts	My daughter and family made a hockey rink in front of the house last year and the otters thought that was wonderful. They made a hole in the middle or it melted a little to make a hole and they kept coming in and out of the hole and sliding on the ice. The first time I saw an otter it was on the land and I thought it was a great big dog's face when I saw it. We don't see them in the summer either. I wonder where they go? Out in the middle?

05-02-2019, 01:15 PM	#9
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,719 Thanks: 752 Thanked 1,457 Times in 1,014 Posts	Yes, I have heard it's not pretty if they get in your boathouse.

05-03-2019, 05:18 PM	#10
farechofisherman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: moultonborough & harrison, ny Posts: 62 Thanks: 131 Thanked 37 Times in 14 Posts	Otter or beavers are in many areas of the lake.

05-03-2019, 07:21 PM	#12
ApS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida (Sebring & Keys), Wolfeboro Posts: 5,938 Thanks: 2,205 Thanked 776 Times in 553 Posts	Even in September... It's easy to tell you've got mink along your shoreline... __________________ Is it "Common Sense" isn't.

05-04-2019, 07:08 AM	#13
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,719 Thanks: 752 Thanked 1,457 Times in 1,014 Posts	UH huh! We do! But we also have muskrats.