Otter friend or foe

[Vagabond]

But my point is Joe public who would be up in arms if there was ever was a call for a cull probably will never see an Otter in the wild.

 

That's what several of us have been trying to tell you all along! Ignorance of wildlife has never stopped the chattering classes from expressing an ill-informed opinion before - their choice will be between "cuddly" otters and "slimy" fish

 

So I have shifted my position, I agree any sort of cull would be wrong ,although there are many things we have to learn about the Otter, I feel it is better to have them, then not.

 

The last time you shifted your position, you went back to square one again ! But fair enough, I'm pleased you agree at last.

[Steve Walker]

That's what several of us have been trying to tell you all along! Ignorance of wildlife has never stopped the chattering classes from expressing an ill-informed opinion before - their choice will be between "cuddly" otters and "slimy" fish

 

Or between "cuddly" otters and "cruel" fishermen, once PETA get their spin on it.

[lutra]

its not the otter is "cuddly" fish are seen as "scaly" thus serve no purpose in the scheme of things.

as for culls they were culled for centuries but now we have "media" to enlighten the masses

 

i'm not sure what we have t learn about the otter it eats fish to survive ,it breeds and it dies and thats basically the same as anything else only the food maybe different ,if "we" cosset the food then its a foe

wolves are fine out in the woods but if they eat "our" things it becomes an enemy ,elephants , mice, squirrels, you name it if its "out there" not effecting anyone its not seen

 

we dont see "cull the bear" here because we dont have bears or if we did if they didn't impinge on something we believe is "ours" then you still wouldnt

 

i,v often wondered where badgers get TB from? cows?

or is it that badgers are great to blame ,surprisingly the price in the market for healthy cattle is here

 

http://www.fwi.co.uk/Prices/Prices.aspx?sPage=dailygbavg

anyone explain the p/kg part (pence per kilo?)

but if you cow has TB its this

 

http://archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farma...e-comp-1111.pdf

 

Now IMHO badgers need culling and not because of cows theres a huge rise in the numbers ,the difference is though thanks to telly most people know what a badger is and they are "cuddly" and compared to what these buggers get up to (an armoured fox without so much fear) a cull would be hot in the press

 

A cuddly otter just eats scaly fish so its only anglers that are bothered to 90% of the population who never see otters and dont give a fig about fish ,so it would be seen by the majority as anglers picking on cuddly otters and in reality its just what it is

There is evidence that the random culling of badgers is one of the worst things you can do for spreading TB. The thinking is that culling encourages badgers to move in from other areas to fill the space and if you didn't have TB before, there is a high chance the badgers that come in to fill the space may well bring it with them.

 

IMO culling most things is a waste of time unless you are going to completely wipe it out.

[cannibalspinners]

So , salmon will be on the otter menu now as they are in all the major rivers now,In large numbers

Should be easy to catch for the otter esp' at the foot of waterfalls ,obstacles etc....

On my local river for 200 yards below the falls the salmon are lying in shoal upon shoal ,

So easy to see with the eye , Even easier for the otter to see & catch.

There are a few scattered salmon on the banks all with their necks eaten

Very silver fresh looking fish too.

The otters are often seen inside the fish pass No doubt looking for an easy meal

[Phone]

Cannib,

 

If I said yes would that help? (I would only take execption to lines 1 thru 7)

 

Lutra,

 

Culling? How about the word "harvesting". Say for fur? We practice culling all the time as a part of the harvest? It's the word choice that's chilling. Not the practice.

 

Phone

[Tigger]

So , salmon will be on the otter menu now as they are in all the major rivers now,In large numbers

Should be easy to catch for the otter esp' at the foot of waterfalls ,obstacles etc....

On my local river for 200 yards below the falls the salmon are lying in shoal upon shoal ,

So easy to see with the eye , Even easier for the otter to see & catch.

There are a few scattered salmon on the banks all with their necks eaten

Very silver fresh looking fish too.

The otters are often seen inside the fish pass No doubt looking for an easy meal

 

 

so what....I hope the otters get fat on em

[lutra]

Cannib,

 

If I said yes would that help? (I would only take execption to lines 1 thru 7)

 

Lutra,

 

Culling? How about the word "harvesting". Say for fur? We practice culling all the time as a part of the harvest? It's the word choice that's chilling. Not the practice.

 

Phone

Ive no problem with "harvesting". There's plenty game and a few fish found its way on to my table over the years, but can't say i have the need or desire to dress like a caveman, much....

[Worms]

But that was a classic JW statement surely you cant be at odds over this?

 

''Raping the North Sea'' was it?

Not quite sure what you mean there, It was a reply to CG's apparent belief that cormorants are not "naturalised" on inland waters of the UK (correct me if I'm wrong Chris).

 

The John Wilsonesque comment is as you say, 'the cormorants feeding on freshwater fish because the sandeels have all been hoovered up' fallacy....not a belief of my own because it is erroneous....but cormorants are a different story, let's continue with otters.

[chesters1]

the sand eel is swiftly disappearing as far as i can see ,instead of cows eating cows and sheep in their dry food now the protein is fish based

not sure who this lot are but its the first i came across with the figures ,400,000 tons seems a bloody lot of sandeels

 

http://www.fishupdate.com/news/fullstory.p...l_catches_.html

 

and of course krill is harvested so were not just raping but gang raping at several levels

Edited November 17, 2011 by chesters1

[corydoras]

So , salmon will be on the otter menu now as they are in all the major rivers now,In large numbers

Should be easy to catch for the otter esp' at the foot of waterfalls ,obstacles etc....

On my local river for 200 yards below the falls the salmon are lying in shoal upon shoal ,

So easy to see with the eye , Even easier for the otter to see & catch.

There are a few scattered salmon on the banks all with their necks eaten

Very silver fresh looking fish too.

The otters are often seen inside the fish pass No doubt looking for an easy meal

I thought I'd explained this before, but here goes anyway.

Winter is fast approaching.

The otter needs to get as much fat down his neck as possible to survive the coming months.

That means he's only going to eat that little bit behind the salmon's head because that's where the fat is.