Island study looks at possible reintroduction of otters

CHARLOTTETOWN – A new study is looking at the possibility of reintroducing otters to Prince Edward Island.

Up until the late 1800s the northern river otter was a part of the Island ecosystem, but the mammals disappeared due to overtrapping and loss of habitat.

The study on the feasibility of bringing the animals back was commissioned by the P.E.I. Trappers Association, the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation and the P.E.I. Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry.

It’s being carried out by Julie Vasseur of Holland College’s wildlife conservation technology program.

Trappers association president Carl Balsor says some of his members have expressed an interest in the return of the furry animals.

Vasseur says another reason to reintroduce the otter is the restoration of what is considered a native species.

And she says that people generally like them.

"They are really nice to look at and are a beautiful animal and people like to see them."

It seems that some fishermen may not be happy with plans for reintroduction.

"One of those things to be considered is that otters mainly eat fish so the fishermen have the right to be concerned," she says.

"But at the same time there are studies that have shown that in some areas they don’t really have an impact on the fish population – from what I have researched and looked at they don’t generally have a huge impact on the fish population."

But she says those studies were not done on Prince Edward Island so it is difficult to know until the otters are reintroduced and biologists start to see trends.

She says areas being considered for the otters are the Enmore and Percival watershed systems in western P.E.I.

River otters spend most of their time in rivers and estuaries, but they need land to bear their young before they introduce them to the water.