Pesky Otters

[shanker]

What are some of the tactics that everyone uses to keep those darn otters off your boats while moored at a Marina?

 

[PaulK]

Don't the guys in SFO use sea lions as otter deterrents? Seems to work for them.

 

[higgs]

I had an otter living under the steps down to my boat. He would leave scraps of fish around that really stunk. I got an electronic gizmo that gave off a buzz every 5 or 10 seconds. Battery operated. I dropped it into his burrow and never saw him again.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

A perforated bag of moth balls has kept the otters away from under the dodger for many years. Started doing this after they hosted a drug fueled rave under the dodger a number of years ago and pissed and on everything in sight.

 

[jssailem]

drug fueled rave under the dodger

Was that the otters or the others?

 

[sailcapt340]

Higgs, that does work!! I know!
I have an electric model that I have used in my garage for years and it keeps the mice out. I was told about it by a friend years ago. He said it gives the mice a “headache” and drives them nuts.
I don’t know, but it works.
And the moth balls work equally as well. Mess with an animals sense of smell and they’ll leave. Trouble with moth balls is they melt away fairly quickly, so your constantly replacing them. I use them under my umbrella next to the grill. I had a bat once under there. Imagine my surprise when I opened it up.
I like having bats around for the mosquitoes they eat, but at a distance.

 

[kloudie1]

The alligators here keep the otters pretty much at bay!

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Squirrels also hate mothvballs

 

[Jacktar]

Mothballs keep the wasps out of underdeck areas on boats too.

 

[Mark Maulden]

I leave the stereo on a talk-radio station.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Was that the otters or the others?

Nope, that was the otters. The aftermath looked like a bunch of drugged up teenage otters had been partying there. Mind you, they are the cutest things you'll ever see on the water.

 

[jssailem]

When I had my boat in Seattle's Fisherman's Marina, just down the dock from Deadliest Catch boats Wizard and Northwestern, the sea otters would take up residence on the sterns of the commercial boats. There always seemed to be a buffet available to them. Never bothered my boat, maybe because of my high freeboard or lack of food.

 

[sesmith]

Maybe you otter use a shotgun and #4 shot.

 

[shanker]

I had an otter living under the steps down to my boat. He would leave scraps of fish around that really stunk. I got an electronic gizmo that gave off a buzz every 5 or 10 seconds. Battery operated. I dropped it into his burrow and never saw him again.

Thanks Higgs. what was this gizmo called and where to get it? Amazon?

 

[higgs]

Thanks Higgs. what was this gizmo called and where to get it? Amazon?

I think it is referred to as ultrasonic animal control. I am sure you can find it on Amazon or eBay.