Fishers by nature do not like open spaces and prefer tree cover or coniferous forests to dwell in. heavily wooded places like New England make an ideal habitat for Fisher cats.
New England Fisher cats are one of the largest members of the Mustelid family, which includes species like the mink, weasel, otter and skunk. These are noted nocturnal animals and therefore very hard to observe. They are however active during both daytime as ell as night time and that too, mostly during the time just before sunset and just before sunrise, when it mainly searches for food. Their cry is similar to that of a high pitched one of a child’s and therefore can sound very eerie in the nights.
The fisher cat second in size only to the river otter, and ranks amongst the largest members of the weasel family ever, to dwell in Massachusetts. These animals were displaced and their numbers dwindled many years ago, when the farmers cleared the forests and surrounding areas for agriculture. Fishers who are susceptible to trapping and logging were badly affected during this time and were forced to move out into other neighboring areas such as scattered locations in Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, and Virginia. However due to their departure from the aforementioned area, the porcupine population started swelling; and in order to control this menace, the people of New England re-introduced the fishers to curb the porcupine numbers. Nowadays, fishers can be found in virtually all areas or communities in Massachusetts, with the exception of Cape Cod and the Islands.
Until very recently, only rare reports of fisher sightings have been reported by the Massachusetts Audubon Society; however, since 2000, these sightings have increased substantially in number especially in areas of eastern Massachusetts. Reasons for this increase in number have been attributed to reforestation of land, which was previously reserved for farming.
There have been many wildlife laws in place which dictate the manner in which these fishers are to be captured in required to control their numbers and humanely destroyed. These laws have helped keep a check on their habitat and numbers.
Fishers are reserved by nature and are solitary in their mannerisms. They are not known to hunt in groups and are only seen in groups during the mating season. These animals will never den near human dwellings and normally keep their distance from humans.
Even thought their numbers have increased in New England area in US, fishers are hardly a threat to humans even thought they are known carnivores. Fishers prefer snowshoe hares, mice shrews, carrion, etc, and have been known to eat fruit and berries too. It is one of the few animals, which can attack, kill and eat a porcupine!
The population density is known to be one per 2.6 – 7.5 sq. km, but can be as low as 1 per 200 sq. km. The daily movement is observed to be 1.5 to 3 km in a day, but this distance is known to vary given the weather conditions. Fishers walk on the soles of their feet and can climb and swim very well. The fisher paws, have, on its soles large surfaces to help it run on snow without sinking in easily. If its disturbed by any creature or anything, fisher cats tend to arch its back like a cat and is known to hiss, growl, snarl or spit as well as give off an offensive odor!
The fishers are known for their thick fur coats, which provide good insulation against the cold and inclement weather.
My husband and I saw a fisher walk through our backyard and into the woods behind at 7:20 this morning.
Heard them last night in our woods. A very eerie sounding scream. sounded almost sounded like someone being attacked in the woods.
They seem to be all through Rhode Island, and taking out domestic cats at will. I was told by someone that the the RI DEM introduced them in to RI years ago to control the wild turkey population. Don’t know it that’s true or not, but they are definitely everywhere here.
It is curious, these mean little predators. I caught a fox going after my cat, luckily it was a baby it didnt get very far with her. However, a friend’s friend has a big cat that essentially goes after fisher cats, never seen anything like it before. Fisher cats will go after small cats with a vengance, but usually not big cats. I think in very remote areas fisher cats get very big and can take out just about anything.
Don’t have a problem with anyone killing one. They may be indigenous but oh well, not my problem. One thing for sure, no one complains about fisher cats disappearing lol.
Heard a fisher cat notight. Screeching scared the living hell out of me until I finally looked it up. Knowing what the hell is making that sound is so much better! I recal seeing an odd cat-like creature a couple years back, figure it was that, but I didn’t heard it or see it after that. Must have moved back in!! I’ll look for prints or even it in the mornng.
Woke up this morning (Maine) at 1:30 to a screeching sound outside. The first thing I thought was “fisher cat” and all my chickens. I took a flashlight and went out side following the sound. I saw it’s reflecting eyes looking at me and then it took off. It left a very skunky odor behind.
Connecticut is in the midst of a budget problem, yet they let the turkeys @ DEP play god by buying (I can just imagine the cost) and distributing fisher cats throughout the state “to control turkey population” . Now the domestic cat and fowl population is down dramatically, and its only the beginning. Wait until small children are attacked. Great job Governor Rell
I saw and heard a fisher cat in Burlington, ma today Sunday April 15th as i was letting out my dog and i had to run out and crab my dog because the fisher cat was right across the street from my house and i was afraid my dog would be carried away or eaten. There screech is very scary and i would not want to be around one, there very scaring looking like a rat type face, there screech sounds like an older woman getting murdered kind of like a crying scared women. PLEASE KEEP YOUR ANIMALS AWAY FROM THEM AND IF YOU SEE OR HERE ONE PLEASE KEEP YOUR DISTANCE FROM THEM. TRY NOT TO LET YOUR CHILDREN NEAR THEM EITHER OR HAS THERE BEEN INCIDENTS OF LITTLE CHILDREN BEEN HURT BY THIS FISHER CAT. THANKS
has anyone ever seen a fisher live in a den? I thought they holed up in trees only We have 3 huge holes in our backyard in the woods. There has been squirrel goose, and turkey carcass. Help?!
There’s a big fisher cat that has been around in Southern Somerset, MA eating our chickens and Koi in the fish Pond. Not too afraid of people.
Father-in-law said he had seen a black mink in our back woods. I just saw it today while I was on my deck and figured out it was a fisher. I saw it walk straight up a large oak tree and climb back down head first. We have tons of chipmunks around, so I’m wondering if he is feeding on them. We also have a swamp in our back woods.
Braintree, MA
I walk my sons dog in the 16 ac. wood lot next door ! Yesterday about 7:30 AM the dog barked and bolted down the trail 15 feet ,I dident know what was happening and then i saw a large black , bushey tailed Ferrit type animal run up a large tree about 6 feet . It than pered out from behind the tree at us , no one moved for at least 4 min. then it droped to the ground and ran the other way . This animal was very dark brown allmost black , short legs ,small round head with round ears close to its head ,it carried in its mouth something lighter in color i could see no features to what it carried , it looked like a large egg . This all hapened 24 feet away so i got a VERY good look at it . I’ve heard of fisher cat’s in the area and now i know why the absence of squirrels
I live in Worcester, MA and one has been killing the cat’s in the neighborhood. I had no idea what was making the cat’s go missing until I heard it last night screaming in my yard for a long time, along with screaming from whatever it was attacking. It was the most horrible thing I have heard. Woke up the whole house out of a sound sleep. This is now the 5th cat from the neighborhood that has gone missing. Yikes these things scare me.
Heard a Fishercat the other night in Shrewsbury off Oak St, went in the woods behind the house last evening and found two dead cats, wish the squirrels we’re being taken instead of cats.
Saw a pair running along the Conn. River on the Agawam, MA side of river at 12 noon on 4.3.2010. I was out on the river in a canoe, otherwise I would never have seen them.
I’m just finding this site tonight, but my husbnd and I heard a fisher cat for the first time last November (09) while we were walking our golden retriever one night. It was around 7:30pm, and we were walking in a residential area that was bordered by woods, the same stretch of woods that are at the end of our street. We suddenly heard this very loud screech/cry which to us sounded like a child or woman crying/screaming for help. It’s the most god-awful sound we’ve ever heard. It made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end and gave me the chills. It sounded like it was not too far away from us, as the woods were about maybe 50 ft. from where we were walking. Of course, the dog wanted to go check it out and became very excited. We cut the walk short, turned around and headed for home. We have not heard this sound again since that night, but I know it wasn’t a fox. We have lots of them in the area and we know their calls/cries very well. This in no way was a fox! We are very vigilant now when we walk our dog, and I am thankful that it stays lighter later.
Lori in Enfield, CT
Night before last ,my husband says I woke him up screaming. We sleep with our sliding glass door opened and this screeching sound which continued for about 10 minutes was the cause. It sounded as if animals were fighting. Today my neighbor said she heard the screech and got up to close the windows as her dog was crazy. She saw what she said was a fischer car sitting near her mailbox which left and went toward the swamp.
Several days ago, I discovered large (inch and a half) five-toed footprints all over my truck. Have never seen a Fisher, but believe this is the animal that’s been hanging around our neighborhood!
I was in Gloucester this weekend and by the artist colony I saw a hole in an eve and as we were walking past one fell out and the other ones faces were looking out of the hole . I never saw or hear dof them until now
Saw two baby fisher cats in the rocks between the path and the water around 1:15pm on the Cape side of the canal. Down near the power plant
I saw one yesterday run across 130 in Cotuit. It was around 6:30 pm. It was heading down to the Santuit River. Positive it was a Fisher as they have such a unique profile unlike the other rascals we have here on the cape.
Otto and myself saw another Fisher this morning! About 35 ft behind the garage 10 ft in front of us, ofcorse Otto saw it first . This was a different fisher , it was smaller and the tail had less hair . It carried a squirrel in its mouth . This all happend about 7:30 AM
I looked out the window yeaterday and saw a fisher 3 feet apart from our cat in a face off. Luckily we ran out and the fisher ran away. Close call !! Will this fisher hang around with a potential food source?? I heard they like stone walls, we just hasd one made. this was about 10 Am, overcast skies.
I looked out the window yeaterday and saw a fisher 3 feet apart from our cat in a face off. Luckily we ran out and the fisher ran away. Close call !! Will this fisher hang around with a potential food source?? I heard they like stone walls, we just hasd one made. this was about 10 Am, overcast skies.
For the people out there that are worried about fishercats killing their pet cats,maybe if there were’nt so many people that leave their pets out this wouldn’t be such an issue..It’s a cryin shame that there is not more fishercats in the wild..wait till the coyotes come,then you’ll have something to cry about…damn treehuggers……………..
I am with my friends (Logan) (Lyric) and we were in kinda brackish water and we happened to see a fisher jumping to rock to rock then Lyric clearly notified us by liping.
“What the heck is that?”
We were confused to watch she was saying and then Logan said
“Oh my god, It’s a fisher!”
and than I said ” Freaking run!”
and we need to know what to do if we see one! Please tell us!
We live in New Hampshire for the summer months, in a camp ground in Winchester. Last night I saw my first fisher cat and it scared me half to death. While walking my mini dacshund, on his leash, I heard a chilling noise. Up ahead on the trail I saw something about 3-4 ft long scurry up a large pine tree. It was almost dusk and at first I thought it was just a big raccoon. The thing went up the tree so fast I could hardly believe my eyes. My dog started barking and pulling. About that time the fisher cat started down the tree trunk. I started walking slowly back towards our home keeping him in my vision while he stood his ground at the base of the tree. I honestly thought he was coming after me and my dog. My husband keeps telling me I don’t need to walk after dark, now I know why! That thing really frightened me!
I saw 5 fishers out my window at around 7 pm last night. they were all in a dead tree about 10 ft from my apartment. They did not seem to frightened I was feeding a deer from my window and they didnt move until after the deer left. they took their time leaving. Amazing never have seen one before let alone 5. from what I read they are loners, maybe they were babies with their mom. I live in storrs ct.
I first saw a fisher cat in Dedham, Ma, a couple of years ago in Dedham, MA.
I was looking out my window into back yard last evening when one ran out of the
small strip of trees and greenery, Mansfield, Ma.
The one I saw last evening was tan in color with a brown of black tail. The one I saw in Dedham was all black.
After seein one, you know when you have seen one again.
New Albany, Indiana…i Saw one near the woods by a neighborhood park ! ive never was one before or after that though never even heard of it til i googled it .
We have had what we believe to be fishers in our upstate New York (Delmar) neighborhood the last few weeks. Their sound is very unsettling, especially when it wakes you from a dead sleep in the middle if the night.
me and my friend were hanging outside of my house and i saw a fisher cat staring right at us i was scared shitless
I think I just saw a fisher cat! I came home early in the morning to see this animal carrying it’s prey, a squirrel, across my yard to my back woods, it hurried but by no means ran away from me.. it was all black, the size of a good sized house cat except short hair and skinny very much the shape of a ferret but too big to be one, does this sound like a fisher cat or another species of weasel?
I heard one for the first time last night. I’ve lived in New Hampshire my whole life is this is the first time I’ve ever heard one. I think they’re fairly new to the area. I hope their population won’t start increasing!
Live in Gilford NH and have a large fisher cat living in the woods behind the house. Loud screeching several nights a week. Keeping my chihaua and cat close to home now.
Matt, in reply to your question, the description does in fact sound like it was a Fisher. The only other animal that can remotely be confused with a Fisher Cat would be a Mink, but is smaller is stature. Mink are opportunistic predators but a Squirrel would have a fairly good chance of getting away. However, Fishers are excellent tree climbers and commonly prey on Squirrels. What state do you live in? In Maine, there is another species of weasel called a Pine Marten. Smaller than the Fisher, but tremendous tree climbers as well. They have not been documented in Mass. for quite some time.
I would definitely keep small pets indoors from dusk til dawn. Obviously, everyone knows how agile and quick cats are and still they are caught by these weasels. Keep in mind a lot of pets have been taken by Fox and Coyote only to be blamed by the Fisher Cat. Someone mentioned about kids possibly getting attacked. Only happened once here in Mass. Just tell your kids to not play in the woods. Animals should be the least of your worries…there are other predators out there if you know what I mean.
I came home late one night to Wareham ,MA and thought I heard a woman crying/screaming in the woods behind my house. I listened for a few minutes and thought it was a pack of coyotes back there. Until, my step son told me about the fishers coming around the neighborhood I had never even heard of these fishers! I guess it was’nt the coyotes afterall!!! I hate rodents types! Id’ rather the coyotes.
I heard my first fisher cat tonight ! That is a creepy sound. Very distinct sound…I googled fisher cat sounds and yup definately a fisher cat !! Now i guess we’ll keep an eye out for it ! -Wellington, Maine
I live in Southborough, MA and heard a Fisher cry for the firt time last night and thought it was a child or someone crying for help. We have several neighbors who have cats as pets, hope they take them in at night.
This morning my husband looked out in the backyard over the fenced in garden and there is a den dug in an old Wood Check hole. We live in a fairly close neighborhood and I’m surprised it would pick this area to make its den.
I thinik I will look twice when I come home late at night.
Yes, the Fisher has made it to the cape. I saw one last week, right in Provincetown, Ma off of Commercial street near the boatslip at about 2.30 in the morning.
Just saw my first Fisher yesterday while walking my three dogs in Thornton, NH. There is logging going on, I’m assuming it’s moving around in daylight due to the machinery invading it’s home. Of course all three of my dogs wanted to chase.
My dogs are 120 lbs, 130 lbs and 50 lbs, should I worry it will confront/stalk/attack us?
I just saw a fisher cat tis afternoon around 4pm. My husband and I were not even sure of what it was, so we just looked up various “catlike” creatures on line and we both identified it as the Fisher cat. The one I saw was larger than a cat, but smaller than an adult cyotte. It was all black, but it had 3 brown stripes or rings on it’s tail. The stripes on the tail threw me off a little, but after seeing pics, I am sure that I saw a fisher cat here in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts.
the fisher is alive and well in provincetown and has attacked a local domestic cat so much for not being seen on the cape.taxi driver also told me they spotted one on rt 6 near truro
I live in Warwick, RI and have not seen, however heard very “eerie” baby-like crys the past several nights btwn 2-4 am…Does anyone know how to keep them off or away from the property ??
I live in Middleboro near Rochester Mass. We raise chickens and were late locking them up for the night. I walked into the chicken coop as a fisher grabbed a young chicken by the neck and tried to take off with it. This one fisher managed to kill 2 large hens a bantam hen and 4 of her chicks. All while the other chickens were fast asleep. We never found five of them. This fisher was smaller than a cat and jet black. The scary thing is we never heard anything but a rustle in the coop with all the windows open in the house. Very disturbing as these are our pets. We also have cats and dogs and small children-We can’t go outside because the mosquito and deer ticks will kill us and now our animals have to be protected from these awful creatures.
I live in West Boylston, MA near the Wachusett reservoir and have grown up listening to fisher cats. They sometimes make a sound similiar to cats fighting, but they usually sound like a baby or a woman crying out loud. I’ve never had a problem with them as I know to keep my distance and keep pets inside at night. Use common sense and good judgement whenever you walk in the woods.
Live in Woonsocket, Rhode Island but backyard borders Massachusetts and heard the fisher cat today in broad daylight – other times only during the night. It is an awful screech. I fear for our small dog at times when she is out in the yard.
On Sunday morning Sept.26 I was a fishercat run acoss the side yard. It went down a banking then came back up and ran into the woods. The people across the street have cats and the fishercat was after them. The neighborhood has lost 7 or 8 cats this past year. This was at 10:00 in the morning. This is the first time we have ever seen a fishercat. This is in Maine.
For all of you complaining about the dangers to cats from fisher cats, keep your domestic cats indoors where they belong, try being a responsible pet owner for once in your life, it might save a domestic cat’s life!
Somerset MA. Last fall I saw what looked like a cute little black mink running across my Taunton River back yard. Unfortunately this year it appears to be a good size fisher cat. Just 2 nights ago we heard this awful screeching and my overweight cat is gone. Afterwards we saw only some white and gray hair and fisher cat paw prints on the dew covered deck. My cats were on the deck just outside the bedroom door. The others made it.