Welcome to the interactive web schedule for the 2017 SEAFWA Conference! For tips on how to navigate this site, visit the "Helpful Info" section. To return to the SEAFWA website, go to: www.seafwa.org/conference/overview
Note: Session titles beginning with an asterisk (*) have student presenters.
AUTHORS: Charles Sanders, NC State University; Christopher DePerno, NC State University; Colleen Olfenbuttel, NC Wildlife Resources Commission
ABSTRACT: The North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis) is native to all regions (Coastal, Piedmont, and Mountains) of North Carolina, but was extirpated from the Piedmont and Mountain regions by the end of the 19th century. While otters in the Piedmont recovered naturally, efforts were taken to reintroduce otters to the Mountains in the early to mid-1990s. By 2010, trapping seasons were open to all regions with no special restrictions. Several states have found that otters in reintroduced populations have higher fecundity rates than traditional populations. In NC we have three distinct regions with unique histories where fecundity can be compared. Our question was whether or not there was any difference in otter fecundity across the state._x000D_ Between November 2009 and February 2016, we collected carcasses of harvested river otters from licensed trappers across all regions of North Carolina. We necropsied the collected otters and preserved samples for multiple tests. We used cementum annuli analysis to determine age from the lower canine tooth. We analyzed female reproductive tracts, specifically presence/absence and counts of corpora lutea for an estimation of reproductive rates. Between November 2009 and February 2016, we collected 823 otters including 447 from the Coastal Plain, 54 from the Mountains, and 322 from the Piedmont regions. Harvested otters ranged between ¾ and 12 ¾ years of age. Males comprised 63% of the specimens. Approximately 82% of females displayed active corpora lutea. Our sampled parameters suggest that North Carolina has a healthy and robust otter population throughout the state.
Monday October 30, 2017 3:20pm - 3:40pm EDT
Carroll Ford