A New Generation of Thieves!

  For the past few years, we have had numerous critters stealing our crab bait.  For a while it seemed that the otters were doing the best job at the thievery but then the alligator came along and beat their best efforts.  The turtles added their jaws to the job and our traps took a beating.  Mark constructed new traps and improved the bait boxes. That solved the problem for a short bit but, then, our bait started disappearing again.  My word! What are we going to have to do to get a few crabs?

  Early this morning, Mark and I were on the pier enjoying a mug of coffee.  There is just something rather nice about this bit of calmness before the hectic day starts.  While we were sitting staring at the water, I noticed Ms. Ez's ears flick.  She heard something!  Not a lot gets by that old dog.  I turned just in time to see a large "break" in the water between us and the shoreline.  Wow!  That was a huge fish!  I was just about ready to tell Mark to get the fishing poles ready when I saw bubbles..lots of bubbles.  Bubbles making a beeline for one of the crab traps.  Uh oh!  I knew in an instant just what made that splash!

  
  Sure enough, the rope attached to the trap started to wiggle. Something...some critter...namely an otter was raiding the trap.  This guy was quite nervy!  We were sitting on the pier with a large dog and, yet, the otter thought breakfast should be served.  Hmmph!  I don't think so.  I eased close to the edge of the pier and gazed down into the murky water.  Aha!  I saw the otter's tail just beneath the surface...then lots more bubbles.  In just a matter of seconds, a head popped up right under the edge of the pier.  There was the little rascal!  

  This was one of the young pups that were born earlier this year. Obviously, Mama Otter had trained her little ones the fine art of stealing the crab bait and the little guy was just following her lead.  Still, I was amazed at how brazen the otter was.  The head bobbed back beneath the water and the trail of bubbles headed for the next trap!  Oh, my goodness!  At this rate, I will never get any crabs!  What can be done about an adorable otter youngster that wants breakfast at the expense of my crab traps?