Otters?

[Grant]

We've had an otter establish a "latrine" in our boathouse for the past 4-5 years. A little Google sleuthing revealed that this is a standard otter practice. Although we've never seen the sucker, I've missed him/her by seconds a few times.

The end result is a greasy, malodorous trail of fish bone- and scale-laden poop and musky discharge left all over the deck. In the winter, it loves to poop all over the 8x8 beam used to prop up some smaller boats. It sometimes goes long periods without a visit, but it always returns.

Due to its sleuth, we've dubbed it "Ninja Otter."

My daughter did the police sketch below.

[Irish mist]

When I seen "otter" I was remined of a book I read back in high school called: Ring of Bright Water by Gavin Maxwell. It's a great read, and Maxwell really captures otter life.

[Amy L]

Saw a mink this morning running by with his catch. Thought at first he had one of our new chicks, but turned out to be a chipmunk in his mouth.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Amy L

Saw a mink this morning running by with his catch. Thought at first he had one of our new chicks, but turned out to be a chipmunk in his mouth.

A Wolfeboro friend enjoyed my photos of my variously-trained chipmunks, but added, "Around here, you have people like me who enjoy their antics—then there's my sons, who shoot them off our stone walls."

We had six minks running along our place this spring, and an unusual dearth of chipmunks.

Minks are not particularly wary, and the freshwater mussel shells minks left behind can be sharp to the feet: I'd much rather have chipmunks around. No other wild creature can be trained to come when they're called. This season, I've got two chipmunks that will race to my whistle.

Yesterday, I'd bought some new sunflower seeds, and whistled into the "empty woods" to the east. It was very entertaining to watch one of my trained chipmunks racing non-stop off stumps, bouncing off mossy clumps, and off boulders—to arrive at the top of my stairs. This was not one of my favorite chipmunks, as "she" (I think) isn't very bold.

"She" may be able to count, however, as I formerly held three seeds between thumb and forefinger, but after wrestling with positioning those three seeds, then switched to two. It didn't matter, this chipmunk took two, then—each time—nipped a finger for the third.

I'm back to holding three, now—who's training whom?

[Greene's Basin Girl]

Originally Posted by Grant

We've had an otter establish a "latrine" in our boathouse for the past 4-5 years. A little Google sleuthing revealed that this is a standard otter practice. Although we've never seen the sucker, I've missed him/her by seconds a few times.

The end result is a greasy, malodorous trail of fish bone- and scale-laden poop and musky discharge left all over the deck. In the winter, it loves to poop all over the 8x8 beam used to prop up some smaller boats. It sometimes goes long periods without a visit, but it always returns.

Due to its sleuth, we've dubbed it "Ninja Otter."

My daughter did the police sketch below.

That's a great sketch!!!

[bclaker]

When salmon fishing a few years ago on the Mount Washington dock in Alton, a mink grabbed a good sized salmon on my friends stringer. He heard the commotion and pulled up the stringer. The mink wouldn't let go until he swung him against the dock supports a couple times.That was before you had to kill any fish that you kept.

[MJM]

While gassing up at West Alton Marine, we saw a couple of otters...the employees (nicest group of young people!) said they watch them almost every day. Very cute.

[Rangervx]

like many here...i have seen them before, going back many years. cute little dudes!!!!!!!!

[Barney Bear]

While working on our dock at East Bear Island, I saw a mink family [3] scampering on our breakwater. The small ones were trying to keep up with their parent. Great sight!!!

[Grant]

Originally Posted by Green's Basin Girl

That's a great sketch!!!

I'm beginning to believe the legendary "Ninja Otter" is actually a very busy muskrat or two. I've seen them swimming in the area, and hanging under the neighbor's dock. Not sure if they also display this "latrine" behavior, but I know their diet is similar (lots of fish). Plus, I've never seen the otter (hence the ninja status).

So, for any previous rants or expletive-laden tirades in the boathouse (mis)directed at the otter population, I apologize. That being said, I do not want an otter latrine established in there, either.