Fisher Cats: Connecticut's Wild Predators

Fisher cats, also known as fishers, are members of the Mustelidae (weasel) family. They are native mammals to Connecticut, but by the 1900s, they were considered extirpated from the state due to over-trapping and habitat loss. In 1988, the Connecticut DEEP Wildlife Division initiated a project to reintroduce fishers to northwestern Connecticut, and they are now doing well in the entire state. Fishers are dark brown with a long, furry tail and semi-retractable claws for climbing. They are skilled predators and feed on small animals, but despite their name, they do not fish.

Fisher cats are not felines or fishermen

Despite the name, fisher cats are neither felines nor fishermen. They are members of the Mustelidae (weasel) family and are considered secretive carnivores, rarely observed in the wild. The name "fisher cat" is likely a folk name that reflects the myth that the fisher is a hybrid of a weasel and a cat. This misconception may also stem from the early settlers in America mistaking the fisher for the polecat, a similar European species. In French, the pelt of a polecat is called "fiche", "ficheux", or "fichet", which may explain why settlers named the American animal "fisher".

The fisher's long, agile body and bushy tail are typically deep, dark brown, while the head and shoulders are often lighter in colour. Some individuals have a white chest patch. They have semi-retractable claws, which they use for climbing trees to seek prey such as squirrels. They do not typically chase their prey but instead rely on surprise attacks.

Fishers are skilled predators and feed primarily on small animals such as squirrels, rabbits, mice, voles, birds, and frogs. They are one of the few predators that can successfully hunt porcupines. They avoid the painful quills by repeatedly biting the porcupine's nose, then flipping it onto its back to expose the soft underbelly. Despite their reputation as killers of household pets, fishers rarely eat cats or small dogs and strongly prefer small rodents and squirrels.

Historically, fishers were eradicated in Connecticut due to over-trapping and habitat loss. However, they have since recolonized the northeastern section of the state due to reforestation and changes in land use practices. A project to reintroduce fishers into northwestern Connecticut in 1988 was also successful, and the species is now doing well throughout the state.

They were extirpated from Connecticut but have been reintroduced

The fisher, sometimes referred to as the "fisher cat", is a mammal native to North America. It is a member of the Mustelidae (weasel) family and is characterised by its long, slender body, short legs, and elongated bushy tail. In the nineteenth century, fishers became scarce in Connecticut due to forest logging, clearing for agriculture, and overexploitation. By the 1900s, they were considered extirpated from the state.

However, in the last two decades, fishers have made a comeback in Connecticut. Reforestation and changes in land use practices have restored the fisher's habitat in parts of its historic range, allowing the species to recolonize the northeastern section of the state naturally. In 1988, the Connecticut DEEP Wildlife Division initiated a project to reintroduce fishers to northwestern Connecticut, where the species had not recolonized due to isolation from source populations. Fishers from New Hampshire and Vermont were introduced to this region, and biologists later found that they had high survival rates and successfully reproduced.

The reintroduction project was a success, and today, a viable, self-sustaining population of fishers thrives in western Connecticut. Fishers are now found throughout the state, including in wooded residential areas. They prefer large tracts of coniferous or mixed hardwood-softwood forests containing large trees for denning. Fishers are primarily nocturnal and are active year-round. They are generally solitary, except for a brief period during the breeding season.

The diet of fishers in Connecticut consists of squirrels, rabbits, mice, voles, carrion, fruits, beechnuts, porcupines, birds, and frogs. They are one of the few predators that can successfully hunt porcupines, employing a unique strategy to avoid the painful quills. Fishers constantly circle porcupines, lunging to bite the un-quilled face and head whenever possible. They can eventually wound and wear down the porcupine, flipping it over to feed on its un-quilled belly. A single porcupine can provide food for a fisher for up to a month.

They are members of the weasel family

The fisher, or 'fisher cat', is a member of the Mustelidae family, more commonly known as the weasel family. The name 'fisher cat' is a folk name that may reflect the myth that the fisher is a hybrid of a weasel and a cat. However, despite its name, the fisher is neither a cat nor does it catch fish. The name may be derived from 'fitch', the name for the European polecat, another mammal in the weasel family. The pelt of a polecat in French is called 'fiche', 'ficheux', or 'fichet', which may also explain the name.

Fishers are larger and stockier than typical weasels, with a long, agile, and slender body, short legs, and a long bushy tail. They are usually dark brown to nearly black, with the head and shoulders often lighter in colour and appearing grizzled. Some individuals have a white chest patch. Male fishers typically weigh between 8 and 14 pounds, while females weigh between 4 and 6 pounds.

As members of the weasel family, fishers have a high metabolism and are tireless hunters. They are also skilled climbers, using their semi-retractable claws and five toes on each foot to their advantage. They prefer to make their nests and bear their young in tree cavities, and often seek prey in the trees as well. Fishers are secretive and alert, rarely seen by humans due to their nocturnal nature and preference for dense forested habitats.

In Connecticut, fishers became scarce in the 19th century due to forest logging, clearing for agriculture, and overexploitation. By the 1900s, they were considered extirpated from the state. However, through reforestation and changes in land-use practices, fishers have been able to recolonize northeastern Connecticut, and reintroduction projects have successfully established a viable, self-sustaining population in western Connecticut as well.

They are skilled predators with a varied diet

Despite their name, fisher cats are not felines, nor do they catch fish. They are, however, skilled predators with a varied diet. They are members of the Mustelidae family, more commonly known as the weasel family, and are considered secretive carnivores. Their diet includes small animals such as mice, voles, birds, squirrels, rabbits, snowshoe hares, chipmunks, and even porcupines. Porcupines are a unique prey choice, as fishers are one of the few predators capable of hunting them successfully. They do this by constantly circling the porcupines and lunging to bite their faces and heads, eventually wearing them down. A single porcupine can provide food for a fisher for up to a month.

In addition to their carnivorous diet, fisher cats also consume fruits and nuts, such as beechnuts. They have been observed scavenging dead fish, but this is not a preferred food source. Their diet is influenced by their habitat, which consists of large tracts of coniferous or mixed hardwood-softwood forests with large trees for denning.

The size of a fisher cat's territory depends on the location and food availability. Their territories can range from 10 to 100 square miles, and they scent-mark their territories using small trees as "posts." They are strong climbers and often seek prey in trees, taking advantage of their semi-retractable claws and agile bodies.

While fisher cats are skilled predators, they are also elusive and rarely observed in the wild. They are primarily nocturnal and tend to avoid open areas, making them difficult to spot. However, their presence in Connecticut's ecosystems is important, and they are now well-established throughout the state.

They are rarely seen by humans

Fishers, sometimes referred to as "fisher cats", are rarely seen by humans. They are a member of the Mustelidae (weasel) family and are considered a secretive carnivore, rarely observed in the wild. They are primarily nocturnal and tend to be most active at night, although they are also active during the day throughout the year. They are also solitary creatures, except for a brief period during the breeding season.

Fishers have a long, slender body, short legs, and an elongated bushy tail that is usually dark brown to nearly black. They have semi-retractable claws, which they use for climbing trees. Their preferred habitat is large tracts of coniferous or mixed hardwood-softwood forests, and they seldom travel in open areas. They are known to use ground cavities such as rock crevices in the winter and tree cavities for bearing young and resting.

The diet of fishers consists of small animals such as squirrels, rabbits, mice, voles, birds, and frogs. They are also known to eat carrion, fruits, and nuts. Fishers are one of the few predators that can successfully hunt porcupines. They do this by constantly circling the porcupine and lunging to bite its face and head, eventually wearing it down.

In Connecticut, fishers were once common but became scarce in the 19th century due to forest logging, clearing for agriculture, and over-trapping. By the 1900s, they were considered extirpated from the state. However, through reforestation and changes in land-use practices, fishers have been able to recolonize the northeastern section of the state. A project to reintroduce fishers into northwestern Connecticut was initiated in 1988, and as a result, a viable, self-sustaining population is now established in western Connecticut.

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