Nebraska’s second river otter trapping season is underway

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Nebraska’s second river otter trapping season opened Nov. 1 and may stay open until Feb. 28, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission said.

Those with a valid fur harvest permit are allowed to trap one otter this season.

The season may close early, depending on how many otters are trapped. In Nebraska, if the limit of 125 otters is reached, the season closes three days later.

Game and Parks said its goal is to manage and maintain a healthy and thriving population in the long run.

The trapping season will provide the state data on river otter distribution, Game and Parks said.

Though trapping is the only legal method otter hunting, it is allowed statewide.

Before setting traps for river otters, permit holders are required to confirm that the harvest limit has not been met.  Hunters can check by calling 855-881-8905 or visiting the river otter season status webpage.

Any captured river otter must be reported within 24 hours by contacting the nearest Game and Parks conservation officer or by calling 855-881-8905.

The otter must be tagged by the commission within two business days after it is caught.  The permit holder must be present to provide the date and location of the harvest.

The otter should not be frozen when it is presented to Game and Parks.

See the Small Game and Waterfowl Guide for a list of office locations and conservation officers.

Any incidental capture of a river otter outside of the season, or beyond a hunter’s limit of one, is unlawful unless the hunter immediately releases the animal if still alive or turns over the carcass to Game and Parks.

River otters were extirpated from Nebraska by the early 1900s due to unregulated harvest.

From 1986 to 1991, 159 otters were reintroduced into the state’s waters.

River otters now can be found nearly statewide, with populations in most major river systems.

They were removed from the state’s threatened species list in 2020.

To buy a permit, or for more information, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov.