Final answer:
The sentence about Andy Gates hunting the otter is incomplete and lacks context, but given typical narratives around hunting, it could be inferred that the character is doing so due to the otter causing some form of harm or because of resource competition.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question does not provide enough context to ascertain exactly why Andy Gates was hunting the otter, as the sentence is incomplete. However, based on various narratives surrounding the theme of hunting and interactions with wildlife, one could infer that such a scenario often involves hunting due to an animal causing harm or disturbance to humans or their livelihoods.
For instance, hunting stories often depict characters like Andy Gates pursuing an animal because it might have preyed upon their livestock or, in a broader ecological sense, because the animal is competing with humans for resources, as evidenced by the historical overhunting due to economic demands and the introduction of non-native species that alter the local ecosystem.
The references provided discuss the impact of hunting on ecosystems, including the extinction of beavers and its cascading effects, as well as indigenous hunting practices and beliefs about the relationship between hunters and the animals they hunt. Such contexts could be related to why a character like Andy Gates might be hunting an otter.