In an aquarium, river otters seem cute, brown and furry.
In a marina, though, like the Port of Edmonds Marina, rivers otters can also seem like an aggressive, expanding and messy nuisance.
About 12 percent of the Port’s winter maintenance project budget was spent cleaning up after otters and birds. The problem has continued well into April.
The otter problem is the growing one, deputy director Marla Kempf said.
“We think the population is on the increase,” she said. “It has gotten to the point where we are wondering if there is anything we can do to control the population.”
Otter droppings — dark, sticky like tar and smelly — are small and not immediately noticeable to passersby, but despite morning cleanings, the persistent poop piles are making some people unhappy.
Employees had to clean well over 45 otter droppings from various marina docks during the weekend of April 26-27, operations employee Ian Todd said.
“It started out with just one regular spot on one dock,” Todd said. “But now we have to clean the D, G, H, Q, R, S, and T docks.”
The Port has been in touch with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Washington’s Fish and Wildlife Department to discuss both otter and bird issues, Kempf said.
Basic remedies like motion-activated lights and strong-smelling deterrents have not worked, she said.
Otter complaints are common, especially at this time of year, said Russell Link, a wildlife biologist with Fish and Wildlife.
Otter pups are usually born between the months of March and May.
The Port’s proximity to the Edmonds Marsh – a likely otter habitat – could be the reason for its growing popularity as an otter hot-spot.
Half a mile down the beach, at the Underwater Park, otters are still rarely seen, said volunteer Bruce Higgins, for whom portions of the park are named. An otter was seen on the beach last week, but that isn’t common, he said.
It is unclear if the otter population is growing, however, because the department doesn’t track that, Link said.
What is clear is that otters aren’t always as cute as they might seem. The normally elusive otters can, if they feel they are cornered, become defensive and aggressive.
One boat owner in Edmonds encountered such an otter in early April, Kempf said.
The otter started hissing aggressively, so the boat owner threw a penny and tried to scare the otter into the water. It didn’t work. The boat owner retreated, Kempf said.
“You want to enjoy otters from a distance,” Link said. “They can be aggressive if they are cornered and they will charge.”
Otters will bite dogs, he said.
The most effective otter deterrents are mini-electric fences and other devices that keep otters out of basements or crawl spaces. Those won’t work for the Port, he acknowledged.
The Port is still working on the problem, Kempf said.
“They are persistent little critters,” she said. “And now they are a daily job for our staff here.”
Reporter Chris Fyall: 425-673-6525 or cfyall@heraldnet.com
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