Wild Animal Wednesday! The Return of the Fisher Cat

Fisher cats have been pretty rare in Connecticut until recently.  Their presence in our state dwindled in the early 20th century as they were hunted for their fur, as well as a lack of habitat due to increasing development.  Nowadays (due to reforestation and other factors) they seem to be making a come back, and for those of us with small dogs and outdoor cats- we need to be careful. 

The Fisher cat is not a cat at all, it is in the same family as the weasel.  They resemble a cross between an otter and a weasel or fox.  They typically have a long body with dark brown or black fur, and a long thick tail.  The fisher cat is a carniverous nocturnal mammal who has been known to hunt small mammals.  It is one of the only species that hunts and kills porcupines.  And despite its name, the fisher cat barely ever eats fish!  The scariest thing about the fisher cat is it's call.  If you are woken up in the middle of the night by a blood curdelling scream (similar to a woman or baby screaming) it is probably the fisher cat.  You can hear their eerie calls on Youtube. 

The problem with these animals is that they tend to be on the aggressive side.  If you see one, the best idea is to stay away from it.  They have become a nuissance as well, attacking small pets in our area, cats especially.  If you live in a wooded area, you might want to be careful letting your cat or small dog in the yard unattended. 

To learn more about the fisher cats visit ct.gov. 
(photo: Daniel J Cox & home.mcn.net/~wtu/fisher.html)