Fisher Cats: A Real Presence In Pennsylvania?

Fisher cats, also known as fisher weasels or tree otters, are rarely seen members of the weasel family. They were once eliminated from Pennsylvania due to unregulated hunting and deforestation in the late 1800s. However, through reintroduction efforts in the 1990s, fisher cats have slowly been making their way back into the state. With their distinctive appearance, diet, and behaviour, they are fascinating animals that deserve more understanding and appreciation.

What do fisher cats eat?

Despite their name, fisher cats do not eat fish. They are, however, omnivores, and their diet consists of a variety of food options. They are also known to be cannibalistic.

Fisher cats are members of the weasel family and are primarily carnivores. They are also considered opportunistic predators, taking what is easiest to catch. They use their sense of smell to locate prey and require silence and stealth to hunt successfully. They are proficient climbers, but most of their hunting takes place on the ground.

Their diet includes small rodents, squirrels, rabbits, birds, eggs, fruit, porcupines, and carrion. They will also prey on poultry and outdoor/domestic cats. They are one of the few animals that eat porcupines, circling their prey until it is exhausted and then attacking the face and underbelly, which are the only vulnerable parts of a porcupine's body.

A fisher diet study conducted by biologists from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and the Game Commission between 2002 and 2014 revealed that mammal species were found in 83% of fisher stomachs, with rodents being the most common. Bird species were found in 12% of stomachs, and fruit and seeds, foliage, egg shells, reptiles, amphibians, and insects made up the rest of their diet.

Interestingly, 12% of fisher stomachs contained the remains of other fishers, indicating cannibalistic behaviour. This was more common in adults collected between November and February, a period of fisher dispersal, suggesting that fishers defending their territories may play a role in cannibalism.

Where did fisher cats get their name?

The name "fisher" is believed to be derived from the animal's resemblance to the European polecat, whose pelt is known as a "fitch" or fichet. The name likely evolved from the word "fitch" or its derivatives.

The fisher (Pekania pennanti) is a carnivorous mammal native to North America and a member of the mustelid family (which includes weasels, martens, mink, badgers, and wolverines). Despite its name and its semi-aquatic nature, the fisher rarely eats fish. This has led to some confusion, with people mistakenly referring to it as a "fisher cat". The fisher's short muzzle, long whiskers, and retractable claws may seem cat-like, but it is not a cat. It is the second-largest mustelid found in Massachusetts, for example, after the North American river otter.

The Latin specific name pennanti honours Thomas Pennant, who described the fisher in 1771. Other names for the fisher include pekan, wejack, Chipewyan thacho, Carrier chunihcho, and Wabanaki uskool.

The fisher was once eliminated from Pennsylvania due to unregulated hunting and deforestation in the late 1800s. However, reintroduction efforts in the mid-1990s have been successful, and the fisher population in the state is now stable and increasing.

What do fisher cats look like?

Fisher cats, also known as fisher weasels or tree otters, are members of the weasel family. They are native to North America and are found in the northern United States and southern Canada. They are forest-dwelling creatures and prefer to live in areas with heavy tree canopy cover, avoiding open spaces.

Fisher cats have long, slender bodies and a low profile when moving along the ground. They have short legs, broad heads, bushy tails, and small, rounded ears. Their fur is typically brown or black, with males having coarser coats than females. The underside of a fisher is brown with random patches of white or cream-coloured fur. The fur changes with the season, becoming denser and glossier in the winter. The colour also varies, appearing much blacker in the winter when contrasted with white snow. The fur on the shoulders and head is grizzled with gold and silver, enhanced by tricoloured guard hairs.

The fisher cat is a relatively large member of the weasel family, with males measuring up to 120 cm in length and weighing up to 6 kg. Females are smaller, measuring up to 95 cm and weighing up to 3 kg. The tail can account for one-third of the fisher cat's length, with a tapering, furry tail that is 12-16 inches long. They have retractable claws on their legs, which make them agile and speedy tree climbers, capable of jumping up to 7 feet between trees.

The head of a fisher cat is triangular in shape, with wide, rounded ears. Their eyes have horizontal oval pupils that produce a green eyeshine at night. They have five toes on each paw, with sharp, curved, semi-retractable claws.

Why did fisher cats disappear from Pennsylvania?

Fisher cats, also known as fisher weasels or tree otters, disappeared from Pennsylvania due to unregulated trapping and intensive deforestation in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This period saw the sharp decline and eventual eradication of the fisher population in the state. The last recorded sightings of fisher cats in Pennsylvania before their reintroduction were in counties such as Clearfield, Elk, Cameron, Potter, and Sullivan.

Unregulated trapping played a significant role in the disappearance of fisher cats from Pennsylvania. Without any restrictions or limits, the trapping of these animals went unchecked, causing their numbers to dwindle. Intensive deforestation during this period also destroyed the natural habitat of fisher cats, further contributing to their decline.

The combination of excessive trapping and the loss of their forest habitat led to the local extinction of fisher cats in Pennsylvania. The exact timing of their complete disappearance is unknown, but it occurred sometime after the late 1800s, when their populations had already sharply declined.

The return of the fisher cat to Pennsylvania became possible due to the state's reforestation through natural succession, which provided suitable habitats for them once again. Conservation agencies in West Virginia and New York had already successfully reintroduced fisher cats, and their populations were expanding into Pennsylvania by the mid-1990s.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission, along with various organizations and universities, began a reintroduction effort in 1994. This involved releasing nearly 190 fisher cats, trapped in New Hampshire, at six sites in north-central Pennsylvania. By 2006, researchers reported seeing fisher cats moving into new areas, including the Laurel Highlands and the border between Indiana and Cambria counties.

Are fisher cats making a comeback in Pennsylvania?

Fisher cats, also known as fisher weasels or tree otters, are indeed making a comeback in Pennsylvania. Their populations were once decimated by unregulated trapping and deforestation in the late 1800s, and they eventually disappeared from the state. However, through reforestation and successful reintroduction efforts, these secretive predators are now slowly returning to Pennsylvania's wildlife community.

The fisher cat is a member of the Mustelidae family, which includes other nocturnal, solitary, and active predators such as weasels, martens, mink, badgers, and wolverines. They are characterised by their well-furred long bodies and full tails, with striking chocolate-coloured coats and black legs, tails, and rumps. Adult males can weigh up to 7-15 pounds, while females weigh significantly less.

In the mid-1990s, conservation agencies, universities, and organisations like the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Wild Resource Conservation Fund joined forces to reintroduce fisher cats to the state. Nearly 190 fisher cats, trapped in New Hampshire, were released at six sites in north-central Pennsylvania. By 2006, researchers reported seeing fisher cats moving into the Laurel Highlands and along the border between Indiana and Cambria counties.

The population has continued to grow and expand its range, with sightings reported in southwestern and eastern Westmoreland County, as well as eastern Armstrong County. This expansion is attributed to the reintroduction efforts and the regeneration of suitable forest habitats. The fisher cats' diet includes small mammals, birds, fruits, seeds, foliage, eggs, and even other fisher cats, according to a state game commission study conducted between 2002 and 2014.

While they are still rarely seen due to their secretive nature and low population densities, the fisher cats' presence in Pennsylvania is a positive sign for biodiversity and ecological balance. Their return to the state showcases the success of conservation efforts and the resilience of nature when given a chance to recover. As their populations continue to stabilise and grow, fisher cats are expected to play an increasingly important role in Pennsylvania's ecosystems.

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