Greg Linscombe

Louisiana is the leading state in number of river otters (Lontra canadensis) used in reintroduction programs in other states and in the production of pelts. However, habitat loss and degradation have prompted concern about the status of otter populations. We analyzed harvesting records maintained by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries during 1983-2001 to identify spatial and temporal trends in otter harvesting activity. To summarize temporal trends, we estimated mean number of otters harvested and trappers, correlation coefficients for number otters trapped and number of...

Reproductive tracts from 89 3-year-old female river otters (Lutra canadensis), from Louisiana were examined. Eighteen of these were in a reproductive phase out of synchrony with the expected population norms. Eight of 32 otters had fewer embryos than corpora lutea, indicating intrauterine mortality in 25% of the sample. Chemical analyses of liver tissue from 57 otters revealed a low prevalence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and organochlorine pesticide contamination. These low levels of organochlorine compounds were not associated with atypical reproductive synchrony or intrauterine...

Data from a trapper survey in Louisiana for the 1980-81 season were used to estimate river otter (Lutra canadensis) harvest for each parish, and the data were compared in a step-wise regression procedure in 53 noncoastal parishes with independent variables thought to affect otter harvest. Of the factors tested, those most responsible for variation in the number of otters harvested were the amount of forested and nonforested wetlands, number of trapping licenses sold, and acreage of cotton in 1980. Otter occurrence was indexed in 6 parishes by otter latrine sites in transects along selected...

An annual scent station survey was conducted in Louisiana from 1978 through 1982 to determine relative abundance of bobcats (Felis rufus) and relate indices to geographical regions and habitat types. A total of 29 lines each with 50 stations per line was proportionally divided into 5 regions. The use of fatty acid scent resulted in an average visitation rate of 4.6% for bobcats, 9.7% for coyotes (Canis latrans), 7.3% for fox (Vulpes vulpes and Urocyon cinereoargenteus), 7.2% for raccoon (Procyon lotor), 11:8% for opossum (Didelphis virginiana) and 7.1% for skunk (Mephitis mephitis)....

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the Number 206 Tomahawk Live Trap for capturing coastal marsh furbearers in a simulated commercial trapping operation. Live trapping of marsh furbearers was conducted from 17 January 1976 to 16 December 1976. A total of 35,078 trap days produced 1,983 captures of which 89.9% were furbearing animals. Nutria (Myocastor coypus), muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) and raccoons (Procyon lotor) comprised 91.5% of the catch of furbearing animals. Overall, the live traps caught fewer furbearers than did the leg-hold and Conibear traps...

During the 1974-75 trapping season an evaluation of the No.2 Victor leg-hold trap and the 220 Conibear trap was conducted in nine study areas consisting of fresh and brackish marsh along the Louisiana coast. Twenty-three trappers produced 10,671 trap nights of evaluation with the No.2 Victor and 7,567 trap nights of evaluation with the 220 Conibear. The No.2 Victor caught significantly more (p<05) nutria (Myocastor coypus) in both fresh and brackish marsh study areas. There was no statistical difference (p>.05) in the number ofmuskrat (Ondatra zibethicus rivalicius) taken with the...