08/08/2024
SURPRISING FACTS ABOUT FISHERS!
There is so much misinformation floating around about these guys, so we thought we would set the record straight!
Fishers belong to the weasel family. Technically, they are just called “Fishers” not “Fisher cats”. They are amazing hunters equipped with large paws, sharp claws and an impressive set of teeth.
They don’t get very large. Males tend to be between 8-16 pounds. Females are significantly smaller, weighing only 4-6 pounds. The largest fisher ever recorded weighed 20 lbs.
Many people will tell you they have blood curdling screams but, more likely than not, what they are hearing are foxes. Though fishers do sometimes scream, they are generally very quiet. When they are vocal, it’s not quite as intense as the sounds foxes make.
We are often warned that they eat people’s cats. A study done in New Hampshire in 1979 tested the stomach contents of 1000 fishers. Only one tested positive for cat hair. Similar studies were done in New York and Massachusetts as well. Both of those studies did not find any trace of cats. That’s not to say they will not prey on cats. They certainly can, but it’s not as common as many would think.
Considering outdoor domestic cats have contributed to the extinction of over 60 songbird species, as well as some mammals and reptiles, the real concern when letting a cat outside should be the damage the cat will do to the wildlife - not the other way around. Cats are not indigenous to this area. What they do to our wildlife is not what nature intended.
Fishers are one of the only predators that hunt porcupines. They have developed techniques to avoid the quills. Though we LOVE porcupines here at the rescue, we respect Mother Nature and understand that every creature does what is necessary to survive out there.
Fishers can be very aggressive but attacks on humans are VERY RARE and generally only when provoked.
Fishers are hunted for their pelts (fur). In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, fishers were virtually eliminated from the United States due to over trapping and deforestation. Restrictions helped their numbers to bounce back.
It’s uncommon to see one. They are elusive creatures. Though sometimes they are out during the day, they are mostly active at dawn and dusk. Most of the pictures you will find online will show them looking very mean and aggressive. These photos obviously get lots of attention. Though, these guys can certainly be aggressive at times, there is a lot more to them. That’s why it was important to me to circulate this photo.
They are magnificent creatures and one of the more misunderstood ones.
