I thought it had me dead to rights!!!

[59Alaskan]

Great story!  Thank you

[huntmaster80]

great story. otters are very interesting animals!

[straitera]

Great stuff Chris. Otters are too cool. Thanks for the story.

[Doc Nock]

I love to watch otters...

I also learned trapping in MT they are not to be fooled with or thought to be cute and cuddly because of their loveable playful antics.

They're the little cousin to the wolverine! And they are one strong, mean-butt, tear ya a new one critter if cornered or threatened.

Buddy quit trappin the Mighty MO one day when he found his 330 Conibear bent at a 90* angle with Otter hair in it! He went 240# and ox strong and couldn't do that!

Still, long as some gator don't git em, that is so very cool to know they're where ya are!

[JimB]

Great story.As soon as I started to read it,I was reminded of my "moment".

I was hiking into a steep,jungle thick draw to check a trail cam.I never hunt this draw because it is too thick to see more than a few feet but there is an almost hidden water trough halfway up.It is a favorite hangout for sow bears,female lions and bobcats.I had gotten several lion pictures already.

It was hot and halfway in,I dropped my pack to get my water bottle.Just as I got my fist swig,I heard that low,guttural squall.I got one of those adrenaline spikes that hurts.I dropped the water and grabbed the insurance policy that's always on my belt in this country.My eyes scanned the brush so fast I had to slow myself down.I just couldn't see it.I scanned a little more carefully and realized the sound was at my feet.

I opened the pack and discovered one of those little cheap,handheld,battery predator calls and the flimsy switch had kicked on when I set the pack down.I swiftly put down the threat,and sat down to compose myself.Well,I lost a couple years off my life but lived to fight another day.Big hunter.

[Doc Nock]

That is hysterical, Jim!

Tell me any one of us hasn't done something similar to scare the bejabbers outa our ownselves!

[darb]

Thats awesome.
To think many years ago I used to help feed/care for Ohio River otters and would get into their cage to clean it out at our local Natural History Museum.  I was only around 13.  Never heard them growl like that.  They were always playful as long as you gave them their space.  Then one day one of the otters bit the hell out of kid- shock.  They quit letting minors in summer programs get in the otter cage after that.
Cool experience.

[Keith Zimmerman]

Very Cool.  Get any pics?

[Dirtybird]

That's funny, glad you made it out in this heat.

[GO Rogers]

   

[Cromm]

That is great.

[PaddyMac]

Great story well told.

But seriously, you're lucky. Very few people realize, probably because they appear so cute, that otters are incredibly ferocious. You're lucky you still have all your toes.

   :D