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<p>Its not all that often that a new hunting or trapping season is created for a new species.</p><p>But in the last 16 years, the Pennsylvania Game Commission will have done it three times with river otters joining the list later this month.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s another success story for wildlife management,&#8221; PGC Northeast Region biologist Kevin Wenner said. &#8220;It&#8217;s a tribute to successful habitat restoration, cleaner water and a population that has grown because of it.&#8221;</p><p>Pennsylvania&#8217;s first bobcat season was implemented in 2000, followed by a trapping season for fishers in 2010. The first otter trapping season kicks off on Feb. 21 and continues to Feb. 23 and is open in Wildlife Management Units 3C and 3D only. The PGC has the ability to extend the season by five days if the harvest quota of 85 isn&#8217;t reached.</p><p>Wenner acknowledged it&#8217;s a conservative approach.</p><p>&#8220;The harvest numbers will tell us how it went. We&#8217;re anxious to see the participation level and success rates, and the data we collect will guide us on deciding to expand the season in the future.&#8221;</p><p>As of Jan. 27 the agency sold 1,010 otter trapping permits. Barry Warner, publicity director for the Pennsylvania Trappers Association, said he was surprised more permits weren&#8217;t sold as the otter population is thriving in the region, especially in the Poconos.</p><p>&#8220;People that have fish ponds, for example, would likely be happy to have a trapper remove some,&#8221; he said.</p><p>The techniques used for otter trapping are similar to beaver trapping. Warner, who has trapped for otter in other states, said the aquatic furbearers aren&#8217;t very susceptible to bait and blind sets work the best.</p><p>He recommends focusing sets where otters are exiting waterways to access latrine sites - areas where otters deposit their scat. Otters frequently use beaver runs as well, Warner said.</p><p>While otters inhabit streams, rivers and lakes, the current cold snap could mean icy conditions will limit where a trapper can make sets. Warner said otter remain active during cold spells, but it may be difficult to find open water to make sets.</p><p>Frozen conditions coupled with a short season could present an inaccurate picture of the otter population, Warner said.</p><p>&#8220;My one concern with a deep freeze is we don&#8217;t get the quota and people will think the otter aren&#8217;t out there, which isn&#8217;t true,&#8221; Warner said. &#8220;I hope the season proves the otter population is there, and it&#8217;s tremendous.&#8221;</p><p>If the season is extended, Wenner said daily updates will be posted beginning on Feb. 22 giving trappers 28 hours notice to pull their sets or leave them out for the additional days.</p><p>Successful trappers must contact the PGC&#8217;s Northeast Region Office and a Wildlife Conservation Officer will meet them to tag the otter and collect the carcass. The trapper will be allowed to keep the pelt.</p><p>Wenner said the carcass collection is a crucial aspect for data collection as the reproductive tracts in females will be analyzed and skull measurements taken from all animals.</p><p>&#8220;It will give us an idea on reproductive success and information we can use in determining future opportunities,&#8221; Wenner said.</p><p>And while otters may not be extremely difficult to trap if suitable conditions exist, Warner cautioned that Pennsylvania trappers who have never pursued the furbearer before will need to do plenty of scouting.</p><p>&#8220;The short season will be challenging, but if people have done their homework they can be successful,&#8221; Warner said. &#8220;If they haven&#8217;t been out scouting beforehand, it will be like playing the lottery.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">The state&#8217;s first otter season will begin Feb. 21 and continue to Feb. 23 with a harvest quota of 85. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_River-otter.jpg</photo0><caption0>The state&#8217;s first otter season will begin Feb. 21 and continue to Feb. 23 with a harvest quota of 85. </caption0><photoCredit0>Pennsylvania Game Commission </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Tom Venesky</p><p>tvenesky@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p style="text-align: center;">Otter trapping basics</p><p>- Trappers must report their otter harvest within 24 hours of capture by calling the NE Regional Office (570-675-1143). An otter harvest cannot be reported online.</p><p>- Otter trapping season runs from Feb. 21-23. In the event of a low harvest, the PGC can extend the season for five days, Feb. 24-28.</p><p>- Trappers will be notified of an extended season by various media outlets, the agency website, the NE regional office and by email via addresses supplied by permit holders.</p><p>a. PGC website, Facebook/Twitter accounts</p><p>b. NE Regional office telephone greeting (570-675-1143)</p><p>c. Direct email message to trappers who provided their email addresses</p><p>In the case of a season extension, season closure notices will be posted/distributed after 8 p.m. each day. This will be 28 hours before the season is closed. Trappers will be able to learn of the season closure one full day before it takes effect, allowing them time to pick up or modify their traps.</p><p>- The PGC will collect skinned carcasses (including the skull) from all harvested river otters. Carcass collection is important to future harvest seasons and management of otters in the state. Otter canine teeth will be extracted from skulls to determine age. A WCO or biologist will arrange pickup of otter carcasses.</p><p>- Otter trappers can use no more than five traps or snares combined, including no more than two bodygrip traps.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Tom Venesky at 570-991-6395 or on Twitter @TLTomVenesky</p></shirttailMeta></div>

A new endeavor for trappers