Fisher Cat?

WinnisquamZ · Yesterday, 06:31 PM

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Is this a fisher cat? If so, what are my options?

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John Mercier · Yesterday, 07:05 PM

Yes.
Technically the name is a Fisher.

What seems to be the problem?

ishoot308 · Yesterday, 07:07 PM

Sure looks like one! They are mean little suckers!

Dan

WinnisquamZ · Yesterday, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Mercier

Yes.
Technically the name is a Fisher.

What seems to be the problem?

Not sure if there is one. He was watching me fish off the dock this AM. It’s also where the grandkids play and swim

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icg56 · Yesterday, 08:16 PM

Not a danger to humans, but small pets and birds (chickens) are on the menu. Usually very shy, lucky to see one in the open.

WinnisquamZ · Yesterday, 08:20 PM

Actually I was a bit startled. Stayed there a few minutes. Credit the wife for some great photos

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John Mercier · Yesterday, 08:29 PM

Be somewhat careful as wildlife can be sick or react in ways that we do not expect.

TCC · Yesterday, 09:08 PM

That actually looks more like a mink to me. Look up mink v fisher on the web to learn the difference.

Winilyme · Today, 05:41 AM

If that’s a mink, you’ll know it from the ‘latrines’ it creates. These are places it poops each night - very stinky and annoying given the creature’s diet. Requires gathering it in a shovel and throwing it in the woods each morning lest you be smelling it all day.

We’ve had them periodically - especially over the last three-four years. They seem to like our breakwater. We called a NH wildlife expert about removing them some years back. We were advised that they usually move on to their next hangout after three or so weeks. Sure enough, we’ve generally found that to be the case.

One thing we’ve done to discourage them, is to liberally spray diluted peppermint oil around our docks, breakwater and their latrines every night. This definitely appears to help them decide that a new spot is needed sooner than later.

It could also be a muskrat which we’ve also had. These tend to hang around for a longer period of time and they lack the unpleasant byproducts common with mink. We don’t mind muskrats. You generally tell the difference by their tails which, in the muskrats case, are hairless.

Fisher cats are larger and usually very reclusive and forest-based; so if your new ‘friend’ seems to be hanging around your waterfront. It’s probably a mink or muskrat. Funny thing is that we once had a fisher cat raise its young under our front porch in CT - very strange behavior indeed for this animal.

ishoot308 · Today, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TCC

That actually looks more like a mink to me. Look up mink v fisher on the web to learn the difference.

It very well could be a mink. If we could see its body and tail a little better it would be much easier to tell as their faces are very similar….

Dan

Slickcraft · Today, 06:36 AM

We have mink in and around our breakwater and the rocks along the shore. When the grand-kids were young and a small fish flipped off the hook on the breakwater, a mink darted out and grabbed the fish.

That sure looks like a mink. A fisher sighting is very rare and one would not pause for a photo shot.

Alan

retired · Today, 09:55 AM

Looks like a mink to me. I believe fishers hang out in the woods, not on the waterfront.

Garcia · Today, 11:00 AM

In 59 years on Bear Island I have seen one Fisher. It was in a tree in the middle of the island. Noticeably bigger than a mink.

Yesterday, 06:31 PM	#1
WinnisquamZ Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 2,243 Thanks: 223 Thanked 705 Times in 473 Posts	Fisher Cat? Is this a fisher cat? If so, what are my options? Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

Yesterday, 07:05 PM	#2
John Mercier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 3,991 Thanks: 3 Thanked 680 Times in 562 Posts	Yes. Technically the name is a Fisher. What seems to be the problem? Last edited by John Mercier; Yesterday at 08:02 PM.

Yesterday, 07:07 PM	#3
ishoot308 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island Posts: 6,537 Thanks: 2,455 Thanked 5,468 Times in 2,143 Posts	Sure looks like one! They are mean little suckers! Dan __________________ It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!!

Yesterday, 08:16 PM	#5
icg56 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 93 Thanks: 3 Thanked 43 Times in 23 Posts	Not a danger to humans, but small pets and birds (chickens) are on the menu. Usually very shy, lucky to see one in the open.

Yesterday, 08:20 PM	#6
WinnisquamZ Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 2,243 Thanks: 223 Thanked 705 Times in 473 Posts	Actually I was a bit startled. Stayed there a few minutes. Credit the wife for some great photos Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

Yesterday, 08:29 PM	#7
John Mercier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 3,991 Thanks: 3 Thanked 680 Times in 562 Posts	Be somewhat careful as wildlife can be sick or react in ways that we do not expect.

Yesterday, 09:08 PM	#8
TCC Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Wolfeboro Posts: 163 Thanks: 268 Thanked 81 Times in 34 Posts	That actually looks more like a mink to me. Look up mink v fisher on the web to learn the difference.

The Following User Says Thank You to TCC For This Useful Post:
BillTex (Yesterday)

Today, 05:41 AM	#9
Winilyme Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Ice in = CT / Ice out = Winnipesaukee Posts: 579 Thanks: 168 Thanked 324 Times in 175 Posts	If that’s a mink, you’ll know it from the ‘latrines’ it creates. These are places it poops each night - very stinky and annoying given the creature’s diet. Requires gathering it in a shovel and throwing it in the woods each morning lest you be smelling it all day. We’ve had them periodically - especially over the last three-four years. They seem to like our breakwater. We called a NH wildlife expert about removing them some years back. We were advised that they usually move on to their next hangout after three or so weeks. Sure enough, we’ve generally found that to be the case. One thing we’ve done to discourage them, is to liberally spray diluted peppermint oil around our docks, breakwater and their latrines every night. This definitely appears to help them decide that a new spot is needed sooner than later. It could also be a muskrat which we’ve also had. These tend to hang around for a longer period of time and they lack the unpleasant byproducts common with mink. We don’t mind muskrats. You generally tell the difference by their tails which, in the muskrats case, are hairless. Fisher cats are larger and usually very reclusive and forest-based; so if your new ‘friend’ seems to be hanging around your waterfront. It’s probably a mink or muskrat. Funny thing is that we once had a fisher cat raise its young under our front porch in CT - very strange behavior indeed for this animal.

Today, 06:36 AM	#11
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,387 Thanks: 1,260 Thanked 2,148 Times in 983 Posts	We have mink in and around our breakwater and the rocks along the shore. When the grand-kids were young and a small fish flipped off the hook on the breakwater, a mink darted out and grabbed the fish. That sure looks like a mink. A fisher sighting is very rare and one would not pause for a photo shot. Alan

Today, 09:55 AM	#12
retired Senior Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: Belmont, NH Posts: 197 Thanks: 2 Thanked 78 Times in 46 Posts	Looks like a mink to me. I believe fishers hang out in the woods, not on the waterfront.

Today, 11:00 AM	#13
Garcia Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 713 Thanks: 149 Thanked 336 Times in 205 Posts	In 59 years on Bear Island I have seen one Fisher. It was in a tree in the middle of the island. Noticeably bigger than a mink.