Otter Latrines

Grant · 11-14-2008, 10:33 AM

Yes, otter latrines.

That's not something I came up with, but rather the given term for a spot where an otter poops and leaves others "signs" (namely, slimy mucous-laden discharge). It's actually more that a bathroom, it's a way they mark their territory.

Well, our boathouse has been designated a latrine for the past four or five years. I first noticed it one fall when I arrived to find a bunch of scat, which had been purposely deposited on an 8x8 beam I use to support a small boat over the slip during the winter. Although I didn't know what had left it, I assumed it was some kind of mink/weasel-type character, as it had a lot of fish scales. I cleaned it up and forgot about it.

Come spring, there was more. Quite a bit of it, too. And smelly -- kind of musky and fishy. Muskrat? Perhaps -- I've seen them around the area. Mink? I'm skeptical -- they've always been along our shore, and we've never seen them in the boathouse. And, besides, some of these poops were way too large for a little weasel.

Anyway, it's continued over the years, and not only during the fall and winter. Over the past two years, the frequency has increased. In September, as I was "closing up," I mentioned to my dad that we hadn't been visited in a month or two...which he confirmed. The next morning, there was the biggest "display" ever -- and I must've just missed the critter, because there were fresh, wet footprint all over the inside of the boathouse, and lots of fresh signs.

So I did a little more online research and found that this is quite typical of otters. There was even one site that mentioned boathouses being used as latrines in Michigan or Minnesota.

Okay -- now I'll cut to the chase. When closing up in September, I purposely left one life jacket in the boathouse for those times I swing by and want to take a paddle in the canoe. Last Saturday, my daughter and I made a little detour on our way back from Montreal, and stopped by to check on the place and take a paddle on the quiet Lake.

Well, we found that my mischievous, scat-happy pal had found a new "latrine" -- the lifejacket, which had been removed from a hook (I have no idea how he/she got it down) was covered with scat.

Does anyone else have such fun with otters? Have you ever seen them? He's like a phantom at our place -- comes in the night and leaves before we ever catch him in the act.

11-14-2008, 10:33 AM	#1
Grant Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pennsyltuckey, Tuftonboro, Moultonborough Posts: 1,500 Thanks: 375 Thanked 230 Times in 124 Posts	Otter Latrines Yes, otter latrines. That's not something I came up with, but rather the given term for a spot where an otter poops and leaves others "signs" (namely, slimy mucous-laden discharge). It's actually more that a bathroom, it's a way they mark their territory. Well, our boathouse has been designated a latrine for the past four or five years. I first noticed it one fall when I arrived to find a bunch of scat, which had been purposely deposited on an 8x8 beam I use to support a small boat over the slip during the winter. Although I didn't know what had left it, I assumed it was some kind of mink/weasel-type character, as it had a lot of fish scales. I cleaned it up and forgot about it. Come spring, there was more. Quite a bit of it, too. And smelly -- kind of musky and fishy. Muskrat? Perhaps -- I've seen them around the area. Mink? I'm skeptical -- they've always been along our shore, and we've never seen them in the boathouse. And, besides, some of these poops were way too large for a little weasel. Anyway, it's continued over the years, and not only during the fall and winter. Over the past two years, the frequency has increased. In September, as I was "closing up," I mentioned to my dad that we hadn't been visited in a month or two...which he confirmed. The next morning, there was the biggest "display" ever -- and I must've just missed the critter, because there were fresh, wet footprint all over the inside of the boathouse, and lots of fresh signs. So I did a little more online research and found that this is quite typical of otters. There was even one site that mentioned boathouses being used as latrines in Michigan or Minnesota. Okay -- now I'll cut to the chase. When closing up in September, I purposely left one life jacket in the boathouse for those times I swing by and want to take a paddle in the canoe. Last Saturday, my daughter and I made a little detour on our way back from Montreal, and stopped by to check on the place and take a paddle on the quiet Lake. Well, we found that my mischievous, scat-happy pal had found a new "latrine" -- the lifejacket, which had been removed from a hook (I have no idea how he/she got it down) was covered with scat. Does anyone else have such fun with otters? Have you ever seen them? He's like a phantom at our place -- comes in the night and leaves before we ever catch him in the act. Attached Images __________________ "When I die, please don't let my wife sell my dive gear for what I told her I paid for it."