jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Apr 16, 2013 14:47:32 GMT -5
Oh yea,the sign an otter has been there-a pile of empty turtle shells.Not so good for swifty.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2013 21:58:36 GMT -5
Are they common in LA area.They are incredible clowns.Tamer ones in the parks are friendly and rarely harm anyone.A gal bought Ridgeback from us is trainer for the 5 sea otters at the Georgia Aquarium Did you ask a question "are they" common in Los Angeles? or did you mean "they are" meaning they are common in Louisianna? Your sentence could go either way! lol Otter couldn't hurt swifty. Swifty evolved where they got lions and hyenas! Otter gets caged anyways. Otherwise he'd be in my neighbor's pool. lol
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Apr 16, 2013 22:16:22 GMT -5
Sorry,i am asking if otters occur naturally in Los Angeles.Not an urban otter but an animal otter:>
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Post by helens on Apr 17, 2013 3:03:11 GMT -5
I wonder if you can tame an otter? I saw a video of a beaver that attacked a man and almost killed him. And they're so cute! Whodda thunk they could be so mean?
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Apr 17, 2013 10:30:24 GMT -5
Otters and badgers and maybe beavers are in the same family.But otters are the most peaceful.They are also said to be the strongest pound for pound in N.America.They run fast on land and can out swim a fish,thank God they are friendly. Canoe trip down my favorite spring run-Juniper Springs those silly otters do back stoke ahead of you and catch food in front of your kayak. Helen,Juniper is 6 miles from my camp in Salt Spings.I have found Mastadon Tusk,colored sharks teeth,hot springs,spearheads,colored clay that is so sticky/greasy,pottery,vertabrae,ancient manetee(dugong)ribs.All by snorkling.The only problem is the gators have to pass by since it is 6 feet deep and 20 feet wide!!!I am so nervous in that creek.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2013 22:14:06 GMT -5
otters and badgers are both "mustelids". That is both related to minks, ferrets and skunks. Otter is really just a giant mink.
Beavers are rodents. An aquatic guinea pig with a funny tail.
I do not think a gator swimming with you underwater is dangerous. The Aussies scuba dive with saltwater crocs and they are man eaters at the shoreline, but seemingly not underwater.
I wanna canoe and snorkel that creek!
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Apr 19, 2013 23:06:13 GMT -5
I just ride down Hwy 19 six miles and throw the Keowee 1 and do hell paddle 2.7 miles upstream against current in the morning.Then you are burning hot and can snorkel until getting uncomfortably cold and the tourist start arriving.They are very frightened by the fact you are in that water.I found a 30 foot vein of white clay and found a 1/2 gallon of shark teeth,a Santa Fe spear and a few discs from whale spine i guess.My cousin and i found two 'logs' about 6 inches round and 18 inches long.30 years later his diving buddy asked him where he got the mastadon tusk,we thought it was wood.It has 'boils' in the bottom for miles that you dive 10-15 feet down in the funnel and dig thru the gravel pile pushed up constantly by the spring water.I am there Aug, Sept,Oct.Bring it on
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Apr 19, 2013 23:16:56 GMT -5
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2013 13:33:51 GMT -5
great story!
Sea otters are cool, but really really rare. We got to feed some at the Long Beach Aquarium.
Those indian Otters are "Smooth Coat Otters" are fearless and very nice to see. An old friend (now deceased) was the first to breed a sister species, the Asian Small Clawed otter. He did that in the 1970's. The are the smallest otter at 10 pounds it makes a terrific pet. Unfortunately, they make too good a pet and the breeders get $7500 a pair! American Otters are cool b ut way too big for most people to have as a pet. 40# or so, I think.
Thanks again, Jim!
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Apr 20, 2013 15:51:09 GMT -5
I could have pet otters here(or tamed wild ones).At camp in Florida i have had them hang out for a few months. Does 40# mean 40 lbs ??That is big for such a capable animal.Gina the otter girl is here visiting dear wife and they are chattering so i am hiding,welding up some rock tables out of Humane Society 4' x 6' fence p[anels with fine mesh chain link.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2013 16:17:47 GMT -5
I could have pet otters here(or tamed wild ones).At camp in Florida i have had them hang out for a few months. Does 40# mean 40 lbs ??That is big for such a capable animal.Gina the otter girl is here visiting dear wife and they are chattering so i am hiding,welding up some rock tables out of Humane Society 4' x 6' fence panels with fine mesh chain link. Sorry, that was a typo. 30# or 30lb is the top end for a large male. Not 40. Still, 30# is big for such a capable animal. Nice project. Humane Society Fencing into tables.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Apr 20, 2013 17:20:18 GMT -5
Even 30 surprises me.I had a tame ish mink hanging here for a while and it had to be 25 #.I am thinking otters get bigger than them.I went rock hunting in Texas last year near Laredo and saw a badger on the dirt road in morning.Pull car up to him and got out and he hardly raised his head, like i was a gnat.Got in car and left.
Correction-it had to be an otter at 25 #.Thanks Scott.Mink rarely gets to 4 #.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2013 17:54:38 GMT -5
Even 30 surprises me.I had a tame ish mink hanging here for a while and it had to be 25 #.I am thinking otters get bigger than them.I went rock hunting in Texas last year near Laredo and saw a badger on the dirt road in morning. Pull car up to him and got out and he hardly raised his head, like i was a gnat.Got in car and left. Badgers are the most bad@ss animal in California. I see them occasionally and every time they seem to wanna fight. They also smell REALLY bad. I have a re-occurring dream about them. [dream]Badgers kill someone, eat their entrails and then sleep in the remaining shell.[/dream] I guess this explains the odor. Cool to have mink in the yard! I just started a new thread with another tortoises of mine.
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grizman
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Post by grizman on Apr 20, 2013 20:03:02 GMT -5
Hi jamesp.
Otters the toughest pound for found? Have you heard of the Wolverine? They say that pound for pound, they may be tougher than a Grizzly bear, and that my friend, is da*n tough! Honest!
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Post by helens on Apr 20, 2013 23:56:42 GMT -5
That video of the tame otters is the cutest!!! What adorable animals!!!
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Apr 21, 2013 18:39:40 GMT -5
They say otters are very strong,but not mean.They are playful clowns.A wolverine has got to be both with that reputation.Wolverines and badgers,like something tinkled in their Weaties-always mean. Backed into a corner an otter would be rather cumbersome too.All of those animals are in the weasel family and can confidently take care of themselves.A 3 pound mink is nothing to triffle with either. No doubt,the wolverine is king of the weasels-up to 70 pounds in size.
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