After pushback and some bold, albeit unsuccessful, amendments along its legislative journey, a proposal to change how otters are classified in Wyoming passed its final vote on Tuesday with no discussion and little fanfare.
House Bill 45, “Removing otters as protected animals,” takes otters off Wyoming’s “protected” species list, converting Lontra canadensis by default to a “nongame” animal instead. Its anticlimactic end came while on a “consent list” in the Wyoming Senate. That’s a tool the body uses to streamline its lawmaking process by grouping together typically non-controversial bills that are likely to pass without the need for further debate. Any senator could have removed the otter bill from the consent list for its third and final reading in the Wyoming Senate. None did.
That doesn’t mean that Jackson Republican Rep. Andrew Byron’s bill made it through the Senate unanimously. Senators can vote against any bill on a consent list, and some did. House Bill 45 passed 22-9, with opposition from Sens. Bo Biteman, R-Ranchester; Cale Case, R-Lander; Ed Cooper, R-Ten Sleep; Lynn Hutchings, R-Cheyenne; Dan Laursen, R-Powell; Chris Rothfuss, D-Laramie; Tim Salazar, R-Riverton; and Charles Scott, R-Casper.
If Gov. Mark Gordon signs the reclassification of otters into law, it doesn’t mean that the semi-aquatic mammals will be recreationally or commercially trapped. That would take the Legislature again reclassifying them, changing them to “furbearing” animals (currently that includes badger, beaver, bobcat, marten, mink, muskrat and weasel).
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department supported HB 45, which gives its wardens and biologists latitude to relocate or kill otters that are giving into their fish-eating instincts and raiding stocked, private fish ponds. Those management responses haven’t been allowed while otters had state “protected” status for the past 72 years — a classification that predates the Endangered Species Act.
House Bill 45 had its detractors, too.
“We need to do better at making wildlife decisions, especially for nongame animals,” said Wyoming Untrapped founder Lisa Robertson, who reported being pained by HB 45’s passage. “They need to be treated with more value.”
University of Wyoming professor and North American river otter expert Merav Ben-David also opposed the idea of doing away with the mustelid’s protected status. She thought it was premature, given that otters were trapped out of existence during the settlement era and remain scarce or absent in much of Wyoming.
“I would encourage a change in their status when I start getting complaints from anglers in the Big Horn River,” Ben-David testified to a Senate committee. “Once we have viable populations [throughout the state], then we can start thinking about changing the status.”
The version of HB 45 adopted by both the House and Senate changes a single word of Wyoming statute, striking otters from the list of protected species (others include black‑footed ferret, fisher, lynx, pika and wolverine). Upon the governor’s signature, it would take effect immediately.
Clarification: This story has been updated to specify that legislative action would be required to reclassify otters as a “furbearing” species. –Eds.
The Destruction, Genocide, and Ecocide of the web of life and nature must be, and bateer be stopped. These murdering criminals that seek to destroy all life with the intent of Capiltaizing for Geed will be stopped one way or the other. The Earth and The Climate can not continue this way any longer. We are in a new time, a New Energy, a New world with New souls. The people of the new world will not stand by idly and watch their livelihoods and the Natural world be desimated by the worst criminals the world has ever seen- The U.S. Government and the military-industrial complex.
I doubt there will be much trapping pressure. Fur prices are down and have been. Not much value in trapping for fur
If Governor Gordon has any back bone, and I know he does, I would implore him to veto this bill. If Otters are a nuisance, it’s because they have entered into the man made ponds of some rich residents and are eating their stocked fish. Otters are not fast swimmers, although they appear to look very slick. Consequently the more common fish they chase are whitefish, suckers and the slow moving aquatics of Wyoming streams. In all the years I have hiked, fished and enjoyed Wyoming’s rivers and creeks, I have seen two otters. And it was a beautiful sight. If you complain about the lack of fish in streams where they once thrived I think you should look at the human impact rather than the otter’s. Why does man think he has to eliminate every single thing that he can not own. Come on Governor Gordon, give this bill your middle finger
Disturbing that a state Representative, that is a commercial fly fisherman has proposed killing off the otters!!!! Will he go after Ospreys and Eagles next. Wyoming is quickly becoming the “Kill” state. Tourism is our 2nd largest state income. People come to see our wildlife, I believe they prefer it alive!!!!
As word gets out, that Legislation for killing our wildlife is more important than saving it. We will feel it. Appalling
For heaven sakes, we don’t need to make the otter another animal that can be hunted and killed.
Better they be classed as ” Furbearer” and remain a closed season than be ” protected”. Hopefully Mead signs this, Non game will allow us to remove nuisance otter families from private waters Alive and release in other parts of Wyoming currently without otters, expanding their gene pool and range.
As” protected” animals if they are a problem now Nothing can be done about it, and the otters simply disappear, SSS, like problem grizzlies, wolves and other ” protected” things that handcuff available responses.
Proper stewardship requires All options be available and select the Best of them.
Let’s hope Governor Mead wants what’s Best for Wyoming resources.
Are you able to run over them over and over with a snow machine? Would that be ok?