A Dog's Eye View: The Mysterious Fisher "Cat"

The fisher is not a cat at all-it's related to the weasel, and has a much worse attitude. It does like cats, though- they're delicious!

This basic Information was taken right from the Mass Wildlife website:

The fisher (Martes pennanti), is relatively common in many
areas despite the fact that it was once eliminated from Massachusetts.
Considered by many to be a strictly wilderness species, the fisher is now
appearing in more populated areas. Alert, secretive, and solitary, there is no question the fisher has made an amazing comeback in the commonwealth. As with other wildlife species, problems with fishers may sometimes arise.

Preventing Conflicts

To avoid problems with fishers you can follow some basic steps:

     *  Do protect pets and poultry.
     Fishers are predators that prey on medium sized mammals and poultry.
     Fishers do view domestic cats and rabbits as food and will prey on them
     when hunting. They will also raid chicken coops and can kill numerous
     chickens at a time. For their safety, cats should be kept indoors at all
     times. Pet rabbits and poultry should be kept in tightly secured buildings
     or hutches that prevent access by fishers.

• Do remove any other potential food source. Fishers are opportunistic
       feeders that will consistently hunt in areas where they have been
       successful in the past. Suspend supplemental bird feeding as the seed attracts small mammals, which in turn attract fishers. It is also a good idea to secure trash, garbage, compost, and pet food, as these are also potential meals.

Habits. Fishers are shy and elusive animals that are rarely seen even in areas where they are abundant.
They can be active day or night and tend to exhibit crepuscular (dawn and dusk) and nocturnal activity in the summer and diurnal (daytime) activity in the winter. They remain active year round and do not hibernate. Their preferred habitat is mixed forest with heavy canopy cover as they tend to avoid traveling in large open areas. They commonly use hollow logs, stonewalls, tree cavities, and brush piles as resting sites.

Food. Fishers are omnivorous.
Their primary foods include small rodents, squirrels, rabbits, birds, eggs,
fruit, porcupines, and carrion. They will also opportunistically prey on
poultry and domestic cats. Although they are proficient climbers, most of their
hunting takes place on the ground.

Fishers are an important natural resource in Massachusetts. They are classified as a furbearer species, for which an established regulated trapping season and management program exists.

Fishers are noted for their eerie howl...to hear a sample, visit www.fishercatscreech.com.