Can someone explain how otters work their prey?
If it sees a ten pound carp with a 30 pound carp which will it go for first?
Do they eat bream?
If I was to come face to face with one who would run away first...
How do they actually kill a carp?
Sensible question so sensible answers please.
If it sees a ten pound carp with a 30 pound carp which will it go for first?
Do they eat bream?
If I was to come face to face with one who would run away first...
How do they actually kill a carp?
Sensible question so sensible answers please.
In reply to Post #1
Size they arent fussed about, what they are fussed about is the amount of energy they burn chasing their prey, especially during the cooler months.
They need approx 1kg of food per day to function.
Smaller carp are generally harder to catch, as they are simply younger, fitter and quicker.
Yes, they eat bream, but they dont seem massively keen on them, they also dont seem to favour chub or Tench, but they will eat them.
Face to face with an otter, that would depend on many factors, so impossible to answer. Ive seen hundreds of them and they all act differently
how they kill carp (any fish not just carp), they tend to chase, grab round the nose/mouth, drag to the bank, island or quiet area and eat just behind the gills and around the pectoral area. Small fish, roach etc, they catch by whatever means and eat head first
Hope that helps
Size they arent fussed about, what they are fussed about is the amount of energy they burn chasing their prey, especially during the cooler months.
They need approx 1kg of food per day to function.
Smaller carp are generally harder to catch, as they are simply younger, fitter and quicker.
Yes, they eat bream, but they dont seem massively keen on them, they also dont seem to favour chub or Tench, but they will eat them.
Face to face with an otter, that would depend on many factors, so impossible to answer. Ive seen hundreds of them and they all act differently
how they kill carp (any fish not just carp), they tend to chase, grab round the nose/mouth, drag to the bank, island or quiet area and eat just behind the gills and around the pectoral area. Small fish, roach etc, they catch by whatever means and eat head first
Hope that helps
In reply to Post #2
Don't they attack small birds or the eggs too I'm sure I've seen that somewhere
Don't they attack small birds or the eggs too I'm sure I've seen that somewhere
In reply to Post #3
They do, especially when lakes are frozen or during the spring, easy prey and all, They also love spawning frogs
They do, especially when lakes are frozen or during the spring, easy prey and all, They also love spawning frogs
Seen a pair attack geese on an island .
In reply to Post #5
That's why you are a mod frenzy, thanks so much for the information.
That's why you are a mod frenzy, thanks so much for the information.
In reply to Post #6
afraid not mate, i happen to be involved in this area more than most (sadly)
afraid not mate, i happen to be involved in this area more than most (sadly)
In reply to Post #5
They killed a swan on its nest and killed a nesting pair of kingfishers on my lake, plus they ate every coot and moorhen
They killed a swan on its nest and killed a nesting pair of kingfishers on my lake, plus they ate every coot and moorhen
Just go onto YouTube and type in
otter kills
otter kills
In reply to Post #9
yeap, just becareful what "experts" one listens too
(that was in no way a dig by the way)
yeap, just becareful what "experts" one listens too
(that was in no way a dig by the way)
In reply to Post #2
Do you think smaller carp then would likely survive in a lake that's been ottered?
I think by nature, small carp are still prey for Pike and as such hide in Lillies. I've fed small carp with mixers in pads yet they never seem to get caught or spoken about on one lake I know. This is despite being able to get a size 8 and a grain of corn in their gob. I've got a feeling they just spend their early years sat in the pads shying away from open water where they are vulnerable. Is that entirely possible?
Do you think smaller carp then would likely survive in a lake that's been ottered?
I think by nature, small carp are still prey for Pike and as such hide in Lillies. I've fed small carp with mixers in pads yet they never seem to get caught or spoken about on one lake I know. This is despite being able to get a size 8 and a grain of corn in their gob. I've got a feeling they just spend their early years sat in the pads shying away from open water where they are vulnerable. Is that entirely possible?
In reply to Post #11
i guess that would depend on many things again.
stock, weed, lillies, depth, location.
good question though.
i do think that fish in general have no idea what a predator is really, normally until its too late of course.
ive noticed when female otters have young cubs get played with by the mother, normally fins, tails get damaged to slow them down when easier capture by young otters when the mother is training them to hunt. A bit like a cat does with a mouse.
i do believe younger fish are more aware of danger. I may well be wrong of course
i guess that would depend on many things again.
stock, weed, lillies, depth, location.
good question though.
i do think that fish in general have no idea what a predator is really, normally until its too late of course.
ive noticed when female otters have young cubs get played with by the mother, normally fins, tails get damaged to slow them down when easier capture by young otters when the mother is training them to hunt. A bit like a cat does with a mouse.
i do believe younger fish are more aware of danger. I may well be wrong of course
In reply to Post #10
I just had a look before I posted the you tube thing
Otter Kills
Monkey
Alligator
Swans
Caiman
List went on
I just had a look before I posted the you tube thing
Otter Kills
Monkey
Alligator
Swans
Caiman
List went on
Another point is I have noticed when a nearby motorway ,ie river or stream goes into spate or flood ,otter predation is more prevalent,ie its quite possible that the food sources in the river or stream at that time are harder to predate ,hence why a static, still water is easier to destroy ...
Also ,pre sprainting, is something worth mentioning,,I have seen a few places ,one in particular, whereby lots of spraint is seen ...and little or none kill activity ....until one cold night when the rivers are in flood ,or it goes super cold...then BAM,bye bye carp ,and the kill.platform becomes evident especially on low access,easy drag areas on the lake for instance. It's like pre recce ,surveillance..
The biggest problem of all ,is man and his attempts to correct the wrongs, ie poorly managed rewilding, not only lutra but other stuff also..
( I'm actually fishing a private venue,where there was 80 carp,now there are around 15 carp,most are bitten regenerated survivors ,another winter or two and it'll not be worth going to this place,that's the reality of it all..)
Also ,pre sprainting, is something worth mentioning,,I have seen a few places ,one in particular, whereby lots of spraint is seen ...and little or none kill activity ....until one cold night when the rivers are in flood ,or it goes super cold...then BAM,bye bye carp ,and the kill.platform becomes evident especially on low access,easy drag areas on the lake for instance. It's like pre recce ,surveillance..
The biggest problem of all ,is man and his attempts to correct the wrongs, ie poorly managed rewilding, not only lutra but other stuff also..
( I'm actually fishing a private venue,where there was 80 carp,now there are around 15 carp,most are bitten regenerated survivors ,another winter or two and it'll not be worth going to this place,that's the reality of it all..)
In reply to Post #12
I think evolution has at least made their bodies aware of predation. Bass and Perch with spine covered fins being one example. Other species have black dots at the tail end, so that (I presume) predators attack from the front and not the rear, giving the prey chance to see the predator and evade....
Nature is fascinating.
I think evolution has at least made their bodies aware of predation. Bass and Perch with spine covered fins being one example. Other species have black dots at the tail end, so that (I presume) predators attack from the front and not the rear, giving the prey chance to see the predator and evade....
Nature is fascinating.