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Report of a survey completed to determine the number of otter harvest tag holders that set traps for otter and beaver, the number of animals caught, the types of traps used, and the number of days they trapped.
Results of survey to determine the number of otter harvest tag holders that set traps for otter and beaver, the number of animals caught, the types of traps used, and the number of days trapped.
The Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan supports numerous furbearer species, and the Department of Natural Resources is charged with managing the "Endangered" but rapidly recovering gray wolf (Canis lupus), the reintroduced fisher (Martes pennanti) and marten (M. americana), the Federally regulated bobcat (Lynx rufus) and river otter (Lutra canadensis), and a number of other furbearers of varying status. Harvest information and physical data have been collected as part of the registration process for fisher, bobcat, river otter, badger, and incidental marten captures. Furbearer Winter Track Count Surveys have been attempted in the UP since 1996, and formal summaries of the results of the survey conducted in 1998 and 1999 were reported. A winter track count approach was selected, because many of the species of greatest concern are active on the surface of the snow during winter, and suitable snow tracking conditions in the UP normally extend from late January until early April. Routes were surveyed 1-3 days after a marker snow, and data from 11 furbearers and 5 other species of interest were collected. Marten tracks were found along 48% of the segments surveyed in 2000. The coyote (Canis latrans) was the most widely distributed furbearer, leaving tracks along 78% of the segments surveyed. The Lagomorphs (snowshoe hare, Lepus americanus and cottontail rabbit, Sylvilagus floridanus) were the most widely distributed species group, being detected along 79% of the segments surveyed.
Furtakers were surveyed following the 2002 hunting and trapping seasons to determine the number of participants, days afield, and furbearer harvests. In 2002, about 12,000 furtakers pursued furbearers, approximately the same as in 2001. The species most frequently pursued by trappers were raccoons, muskrats, coyotes, and opossum. Hunters most commonly sought coyotes and raccoons. Harvest levels of most furbearers in 2002 were within historical ranges except for coyote. A record high number of coyotes was taken by trappers in 2002. Trends in harvest are affected by both changes in furtaker and furbearer numbers; thus, harvest per furtaker was also examined for trends. The mean number of raccoon and opossum taken per furtaker has increased since the 1980s. The mean harvest of coyotes per hunter has increased since the mid-1980s, while the mean harvest of red fox by both hunters and trappers has declined during this same period. These trends suggest that raccoon, opossum, and coyote may have been increasing in abundance during the last 20 years, while red fox numbers may have been declining.
Report of survey of a sample of furtakers contacted after the 2009 hunting and trapping seasons to estimate the number of participants, days afield (effort), and furbearer harvests.
Report of survey of a sample of furtakers contacted after the 2008 hunting and trapping seasons to estimate the number of participants, days afield (effort), and furbearer harvests.
Pressure by concerned organizations and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has caused the Fish and Wildlife Service to compile comprehensive data on some furbearers. This documentation is necessary to verify the stability of populations and to justify continued harvesting and exportation of pelts. During the winter of 1982-83, the Wildlife Division collected river otter (Lutra canadensis) from trappers to increase knowledge of this species, and to evaluate various methods for determining age and physical condition. The sex ratio of the otters examined from Region I was 100:145 (11:16), males to females. The percentage of juvenile animals dropped 33% (from 44% to 29.6% of the total submitted). The most prevalent age class in the sample was the 2-3 year class with 1/3 of the otter submitted falling into this class. For the second year in a row the otter from Region II had a sex ratio which strongly favored the males: 100:41 (34:14). The 0-1, 2-3, and 3-4 year age classes showed a similar sex dissimilarity: 17:3, 6:2, and 6:3 respectively. For the second consecutive year, the percentage of the 0-1 year age class decreased from 56% in 1980-81 to 48% in 1981-82, to 42% in 1982-83. Age classes 2-3 and 3-4 years were present in higher numbers than in the previous year's study.
At the end of the 1994-95 furharvester seasons, 743 license buyers were mailed a questionnaire asking for the results of their hunting and trapping efforts. Those who failed to respond to theoriginal mailing were sent up to three reminders. A total of 470 questionnaires were returned for an adjusted response rate of 66 percent. The number of Fur Harvester licenses sold in 1994-95 increased from 1993-94. An estimated 8,685 individuals (84%) hunted or trapped furbearing animals using one of the three license types. Approximately two-thirds of these individuals (5,768) used traps while 5,127 hunted furbearers. Of those participating in the season, twenty-five percent (2,210) both hunted and trapped furbearers. The majority of raccoon and bobcat were taken by hunters, while trappers took a greater number of opossum, skunk, weasel, fox, and coyote. Trapping is the only legal means of take for mink, muskrat, weasel, otter, fisher, and badger. Harvests of all species except fisher and coyote were higher than 1993-94 estimates.
A sample of furtakers was contacted after the 2005 hunting and trapping seasons to estimate the number of participants, days afield (effort), and furbearer harvests. In 2005, about 13,200 furtakers pursued furbearers; a decrease of 3% from 2004. About 33% of the license buyers trapped (6,959 trappers), 44% hunted (9,333 hunters) and 14% both trapped and hunted (3,058 furtakers) during 2005. The species most frequently pursued by trappers were raccoons, coyotes, and muskrats. Hunters most commonly sought coyotes, raccoons, and red fox. Harvest levels of most furbearers in 2005 were within historical ranges, except for coyotes. The number of coyotes taken by hunters was the highest recorded since 1980. Trends in harvest are affected by both changes in furtaker and furbearer numbers; thus, harvest per furtaker was also examined for trends. The mean number of raccoon and opossum taken per furtaker has increased since the 1980s. The mean harvest of coyotes per hunter has increased since the mid-1980s, while the mean harvest of red fox by both hunters and trappers has declined during this same period. These trends suggest raccoon, opossum, and coyote may have been increasing in abundance during the last 20 years, while red fox numbers may have been declining. An estimated 770 trappers caught 4,468 beaver through the ice during the 2005 season. Furthermore, about 894 trappers caught 2,746 beaver during April 2006. An estimated 91% of trappers that tried to catch coyote or fox used foothold traps. About 29% of coyote and fox trappers used snares in their attempt to catch coyote or fox.
Results of the 1986-1987 River Otter Survey. Pressure by concerned organizations and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has caused the Fish and Wildlife Service to compile comprehensive data on state furbearers.
A survey was completed to determine the number of otter harvest tag holders that set traps for otter and beaver, the number of animals caught, the types of traps used, and the number of days they trapped.
Report on the results of the 1948 beaver and otter season by district.
Report of a survey of furtakers contacted after the 2011 hunting and trapping seasons to estimate the number of participants, days afield (effort) and furbearer harvests.
Report on the results of the 1953 beaver and otter season, broken down by region, with comparisons to previous years.
Pressure by concerned organizations and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has caused the Fish and Wildlife Service to compile comprehensive data on some furbearers. This documentation is necessary to verify the stability of populations and to justify continued harvesting and exportation of pelts. During the winter of 1983-84, the Wildlife Division collected river otter (Lutra canadensis) from trappers to increase knowledge of this species, and to evaluate various methods for determining age and physical condition. The sex ratio of the otters examined from Region I (Table 1) was 100:75 (20:15) males to females. This is the first year we have had more males than females in our collected animals, thereby being inconsistent with our past collections. The percentage of juvenile animals increased from 29.6% last year to 34.3% this year, but was still well below the 1982 figure of 44%. This is the first year of harvest data for Region II where the male to female ratio is nearly even - 100:91 (34:31). All of the age classes tended to exhibit this same type of ratio. For the third consecutive year, the percentage of the 0-1 year age class decreased from 56% in 1980-81 to 48% in 1981-82, to 42% in 1982-83, to 22% in 1983-84. Age class 1-2 years was the largest represented group (34%), up from 10% the previous year.
A survey was completed to determine the number of otter harvest tag holders that set traps for otter and beaver, the number of animals caught, the types of traps used, and the number of days they trapped.
A sample of furtakers was contacted after the 2004 hunting and trapping seasons to estimate the number of participants, days afield (effort), and furbearer harvests. In 2004, about 13,600 furtakers pursued furbearers; an increase of 4% from 2003. About 33% of the license buyers trapped (6,923 trappers), 47% hunted (10,071 hunters) and 16% both trapped and hunted (3,356 furtakers) during 2004. The species most frequently pursued by trappers were raccoons, coyotes, and muskrats. Hunters most commonly sought coyotes, raccoons, and red fox. Harvest levels of most furbearers in 2004 were within historical ranges, except for coyotes. The number of coyotes taken by both hunters and trappers was the highest recorded since 1980. Trends in harvest are affected by both changes in furtaker and furbearer numbers; thus, harvest per furtaker was also examined for trends. The mean number of raccoon and opossum taken per furtaker has increased since the 1980s. The mean harvest of coyotes per hunter has increased since the mid-1980s, while the mean harvest of red fox by both hunters and trappers has declined during this same period. These trends suggest that raccoon, opossum, and coyote may have been increasing in abundance during the last 20 years, while red fox numbers may have been declining. An estimated 23% of trappers used snares to catch coyote or fox, and about 6% of trappers attempted to catch beaver using snares in underwater sets.
A sample of furtakers was contacted after the 2003 hunting and trapping seasons to estimate the number of participants, days afield, and furbearer harvests. In 2003, about 13,000 furtakers pursued furbearers, an increase of 7% from 2002. The species most frequently pursued by trappers were raccoons, coyotes, and muskrats. Hunters most commonly sought coyotes, raccoons, and red fox. Harvest levels of most furbearers in 2003 were within historical ranges, except for harvest of muskrats and raccoons. The number of muskrats taken by trappers was the lowest recorded since 1957, and the number of raccoons taken by hunters was the lowest recorded since 1980. Trends in harvest are affected by both changes in furtaker and furbearer numbers; thus, harvest per furtaker was also examined for trends. The mean number of raccoon and opossum taken per furtaker has increased since the 1980s. The mean harvest of coyotes per hunter has increased since the mid-1980s, while the mean harvest of red fox by both hunters and trappers has declined during this same period. These trends suggest that raccoon, opossum, and coyote may have been increasing in abundance during the last 20 years, while red fox numbers may have been declining. An estimated 24% of trappers attempted to catch coyote or fox using snares, and 8% of trappers tried to catch beaver using snares set underwater. About 4% of bobcat hunters hired a guide to assist them while hunting bobcats. Nearly 59% of bobcat hunters used calls while hunting bobcats, and 45% of bobcat hunters used dogs.
In response to increasing pressure placed on the federal authorities by concerned organizations, each state has been requested by the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to compile comprehensive documentation of their furbearing populations. This documentation is necessary to verify the stability of the species populations and to justify the continued harvesting and exportation of furbearers. During the winter of 1980-81, the Wildlife Division undertook collection of trapper harvested river otter (Lutra canadensis) in order to increase knowledge of this species. Skinned otter carcasses were obtained from collectors throughout northern Michigan and the following determinations made: sex, age, weight, physical condition, stomach contents, parasites present, and productivity. This information was tabulated and the data summarized for each region.
Survey of a sample of furtakers contacted after the 2007 hunting and trapping seasons to estimate the number of participants, days afield (effort), and furbearer harvests.
A survey was completed to determine the number of otter harvest tag holders that set traps for otter and beaver, the number of animals caught, the types of traps used, and the number of days they trapped.
Pressure by concerned organizations and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has caused the Fish and Wildlife Service to compile comprehensive data on some furbearers. This documentation is necessary to verify the stability of populations and to justify continued harvesting and exportation of pelts. During the winter of 1981-82, the Wildlife Division undertook collection of trapper-harvested river otter (Lutra canadensis) in order to increase their knowledge of this species and to evaluate various methods for field techniques for sex and age determination. The sex ratio of the otters examined from Region I was 8:10, males to females, with juveniles comprising 44% of the total. The otter from Region II had a sex ratio of 17:4 males to females. The 0-1 and l-2-year-old animals showed a similar sex dissimilarity (8:2 and 4:0 respectively). These ratios vary considerably from what has been reported in the literature in the past. The juvenile (0-1 year) age class made up nearly 50% of the animals examined which agrees with last year's data.
Report on the results of the 2002-2003 River Otter Survey. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service requires data on the harvest and status of river otter (Lutra canadensis), in order to allow export of the species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
