Every so often I put out a game camera outside just to see what’s walking around during the day I don’t see, or at night. Recently I put one out by the garden. It’s all covered with snow of course, but I’ve been seeing tracks in the snow. The snow has gotten up more than half way up the four foot fence, and “something” has been going through and over it.
I figured it was one of the local red foxes, namesakes of our homestead name. And, yes, they do visit.
But to my surprise, another visitor, one totally unexpected!
This, my friends, is a Fisher (also called a Fisher cat, though it is not related to any feline).
Fishers are weasels, larger than martins, smaller than mink; cat size, with smaller females, and males averaging 10 lbs. They have dense coats, ranging from brown to black, and retractable nails (like a cat). Their hairy hind feet help keep them from sliding on ice or snow, and fishes can climb trees as well.
Like other weasels, they are carnivores, eating a live diet. Just like our owls. In fact, fishers eat a lot of the same things: small rodents, rabbits and hares, all nature of small mammals. They often get into trouble in more urban areas, and will take a liking to chickens, and small dogs and cats. When hungry enough, they will also eat carrion, like a deer carcass. Fishers most notably will catch, kill and eat porcupines – one of the only natural predators a porcupine has.
So with all the snow this year, apparently our local Fisher has been checking out the scraps I throw out on the garden. Mostly it’s vegetable peelings, eggs shells…all the things I will compost when it’s warmer. Maybe a couple bones get thrown out by accident, and I think this is what is attracting him (or her) to check on the discards.
Breeding is in early spring, and after about 50 days, “kits” are born in a hollow tree den. They are born without sight, totally helpless (like kittens). They start climbing and walking after a few weeks, and by 5 months of age, after teaching them life skills all summer, mom kicks them out to be on their own.
Fishers sound incredibly scary. I have heard them before. It’s a screaming cry, really sounds like a child or woman screaming. If you care to hear it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrvdzCGjbzw . Please note that officials say some of the sounds posted on line are really red fox, not fishers.
Fishers are tough little animals. Though I love seeing and finding out what wild things are outside, I’m not sure I want this one around. Our feral cats will be outside in the summer, and I am hoping to get some chickens. If I do, I’ll need to be diligent and keep them in totally enclosed areas, with both fox and fisher nearby.
Who else has experience with fishers?