Saturday, April 9, 2016

Fishers Return to New Jersey

Fisher - via wikipedia commons
Since the days of logging operations and unregulated trapping in New Jersey back in the early 1900s, you haven't heard or seen much of the fisher in our state. This species was once widely taken for its fur and was eliminated (extirpated) statewide.

But it seems to be making a comeback. Recently, two trappings of fishers by state officials in North Jersey, seems to indicate a return of fishers to the state.

Fishers are long, slender animals usually measuring between 20 and 25 inches with dark brown or black fur with white-tipped hair over most of their bodies.They prefer to live in forested areas, making dens in hollow trees and preying on small animals, including mice, squirrels, shrew and even porcupines.

Fishers are good swimmers and may be found by lakes, timbered swamps and bogs. They can have a home range of 1-3, but up to 15 square miles.

Sometimes confused with the wolverine (which does not exist in NJ), fishers are found only in North America. Also referred to as the fisher cat and Appalachian black cat, this animal may look like a cat or fox, but has a tough wolverine-like disposition.

Its name is a misnomer in that it is neither a feline nor does it catch fish. The fisher (Martes pennanti) is a member of the Mustelidae family, which includes otters, badgers, martens, ferrets, minks, and wolverines.

According to conservewildlifenj.org, this carnivore will eat anything it can catch — typically small- to medium-sized mammals and birds, carrion and some nuts and fruits also make up a portion of its diet. They can take down weak or injured deer, especially in times of heavy snow pack.

One distinction is that it is the  only predator of porcupines in the country. Those ominous prickly porcupine quills are effective against most predators except the fisher. It pursues a porcupine up a tree until it can go no further and falls. The fall stuns the porcupine, allowing the fisher to access the unprotected underside.


The fishers found in New Jersey probably came from some that were reintroduced in Northern Pennsylvania in the 1990s or from the Catskill Region of New York State, where they were introduced in the late 1970s to early 1980s,

There have only been three previous live discoveries of fishers in New Jersey in the last decade.

This year, one was captured in January in Mansfield Township and another fisher was caught and released in February in Washington Township, according to New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Being that fishers have no natural enemies and few disease occurrences, without trapping by humans, vehicle collisions are the most likely reason for their death.



A fisher in West Virginia via Wikipedia Commons

61 comments:

Unknown said...

I saw what looked to be a female Fisher this morning (5-1-17), at about 6:30 am, just north of Titusville in Mercer County. She was running along the Delaware canal bank down by the water edge on the opposite side from the tow path, (on the River road side of the canal). She stopped and took a good look at me and my dog, but ducked under a bush before I could get my cell phone out to take a picture. I had no idea what she was, but was all brown with long body and short legs, and a rather long bushy tail, resembling a weasel. Very exciting to see this rare animal up close!

Charles said...

We saw what looked very much like a Fisher walking across a neighbour's back yard in Princeton on Friday May 19th. No photo unfortunately.

Anonymous said...

We saw what might be a Fisher on the D&R Canal between Washington Rd. and Harrison Street in Princeton today. Is that possible?

Anonymous said...

I think I saw what might have been a Fisher running across Union Valley Road in West Milford this morning (6/17/2017). It had very bushy dark reddish brown thick fur and was about 2.5 feet long. It ran with a motion similar to a ferret.

Anonymous said...

We got one on the wildlife cam in North Bergen, NJ.
https://my.pcloud.com/publink/show?code=XZV7XiZaSiNMIlU1sSrpiqauANgwYEWKUyX

Unknown said...

Neighbor just saw what looked like a Fisher Cat here in Hopewell Twp (south of Pennington Circle). She has chickens coop in the yard now, and usually has deer, raccoon, hawks and other wildlife around.

Mary Anne said...

I saw one this morning when I was out walking my dog in Somerset. It ran across the street in front of me. I was really surprised. At night I sometimes here animals screaming and I usually think it's a vixen but maybe its one of these.

Unknown said...

I live in little egg harbor NJ. We think we have fisher cats in the woods which border our golf course. We hear them every night and the sound is identical to what we hear on line. Should we report this to anyone in the town or EPA?

Peter

Ken Ronkowitz said...

Yes, you should report the sightings. take a look at https://endangerednj.blogspot.com/2017/06/reporting-rare-wildlife-sightings-in-nj.html

Unknown said...

We have seen a fisher in our yard in Buena, NJ at 8 PM last month. We also saw one last year. My husband saw one at about 6:30 AM about two weeks ago behind our pool.

Unknown said...

We had a Fisher in our backyard yesterday in Newfield, NJ. His coat was reddish brown with a very bushy black tail.

Unknown said...

I live in Knowlton Township, NJ which is located in northern Warren County and bordered by the Delaware National Recreation Area. It is a rural community and heavily wooded. We have lots of wildlife including wild turkeys, owls, bears, deer, turkey vultures, snakes, coyotes, fox, and a wolf preserve, In May 2017, I observed a fisher cat at dusk along a brook. I was about a mile from my home and was driving. I was shocked, hit my brakes, and examined it well. It was very large and reminded me of a ferret in terms of its contours, but very large, and furry. I reported the incident to a wildlife professional, who informed me that I had likely seen a fisher cat. I immediately looked at photos online and discovered I had indeed seen one. I love wildlife and it truly made my day to see an animal that is rare to, but certainly making a comeback to NJ.

Unknown said...

I live in Knowlton Township, NJ which is located in northern Warren County and bordered by the Delaware National Recreation Area. It is a rural community and heavily wooded. We have lots of wildlife including wild turkeys, owls, bears, deer, turkey vultures, snakes, coyotes, fox, and a wolf preserve, In May 2017, I observed a fisher cat at dusk along a brook. I was about a mile from my home and was driving. I was shocked, hit my brakes, and examined it well. It was very large and reminded me of a ferret in terms of its contours, but very large, and furry. I reported the incident to a wildlife professional, who informed me that I had likely seen a fisher cat. I immediately looked at photos online and discovered I had indeed seen one. I love wildlife and it truly made my day to see an animal that is rare to, but certainly making a comeback to NJ.

Unknown said...

My husband just saw a fisher about 15 minutes ago, 8:15 AM, running in the woods on our street here in Buena, NJ.

Erik Kiviat said...

Dear Anonymous: I found your "fisher-maybe" trail camera video from North Bergen, NJ, and am communicating with a fisher researcher to check the identification. Could you tell me the location, habitat, and proximity to water? If you don't want to post this on the Web you can communicate with me at kiviat@bard.edu. This is of interest to me as a researcher studying biodiversity in the NJ Meadowlands and surroundings. Thank you! Erik Kiviat

Anonymous said...

I saw a fisher about 5 years ago running on a power line just south of Woodstown, Salem County, NJ. I have a farm near there and I've been seeing prints in the snow and mud where I feed my horses and have my platform b
ird feeder. I think they are fisher prints. Don't know what else they can be.

FABU said...

Im pretty sure I saw one today in Shrewsbury, NJ in a tree invading what I thought was a squirrels nest. Off Gilbert Street, behind VA beside Tennis club on edge of old Lorenos farm.

BMill said...

I encountered a fisher Friday evening on the NJ Appalachian Trail near Millbrook Road. It just getting dark so it was right around 8pm.

Unknown said...

thats a mink

Mike R said...

I found a dead fisher this morning (Dec. 17, 2018) alongside a rural road in Somerset NJ that had probably been run over by a car. It was on Grouser Rd. about 1/2 mile from the Delaware/Raritan canal. It measured 22 inches from nose to end of tail. I live on the road and I have heard what I believed to be the fisher's scream at night usually in Jan. or Feb. but I have never seen a live one. At least now I know that they are around.

Unknown said...

Believe it or not I saw the same thing on Union Valley Road at around 10

Unknown said...

There's one in the road, dead right now, by Morristown airport

Unknown said...

I might have seen one in cherry hill nj running across a road into a creek bed. It is a heavily wooded part of upper Cooper river basin. At first i thought it was a cat but realized it was dark brown, more bushy and kind of loped rather than sprinted like a cat might.

Anonymous said...

I believe my mother and I spotted one dead along the road in Winslow Township. The area has wildlife management sites, swampy spots and lots of place for a fisher to eat.

Unknown said...

I had a fisher kill 4 of 6 chickens out of the coop. I am in wantage nj and we have alot of mink in the area, so thats what I mistook it for. I set a trap line last year after it happened, and I caught it and brought it to the state park to let it go. then at the end of last year I was deer hunting and I saw 3 of them throughout 1 day from my tree stand. I have been in the woods as much as I can be since I was a kid and last year was the first I had ever even heard of fisher cats in nj

Anonymous said...

I saw what I believe to be a fisher in Mercer County near Peddie Golf Course. Then my neighbor saw him a couple days later. This was in summer 2017.

Snagglpuss said...

I believe that I saw one in my wooded backyard this morning at 6:45. Did not know what it was until now. I've never seen one before

Unknown said...

We had a fisher in our yard last year. It ran out of the woods at dusk and tried to attack a cat. Prior to seeing it, we heard it for at least a week before that. We are in Vineland.

Unknown said...

Saw a large black Fisher today at dawn near the Wallkill Wildlife Refuge near the Wallkill river.

AllisonNJ71 said...

Had a vulture with what appeared to be a smaller fisher cat in Washington twp Morris https://photos.app.goo.gl/S342tVakTs8uhTWYA

kelly said...

I saw one tonight as I was driving down Parker Road in Chester, NJ. Very slender and low like a mink.

Mary said...

I think I may have seen one in my yard today in Liberty Corner. Wasn’t sure at first what it was. Googled “small black animal” and decided it must have been either a mink or a fisher. Then listened to a video of a fisher call and recognized the sound as one we had heard at night earlier this winter.

Steven said...

Steven of northern warren county, my wife and I live in a deeply wooded section against the pahaquarry mountain. twice now we have seen a fishercat cross through the back yard. They appear late in the day about 1/2 hour before sunset. We have many huge old oaks and other species of trees hollowed out with numerous squirrels, perfect habitat for a fisher. April 11, 2020.

Unknown said...

Seeing paw prints around my shop the backs up to a bunch of woods and water in Williamstown South Jersey Off Tuckahoe Road. Pretty certain it’s a fisher cat.

Endangered New Jersey said...

It would be helpful for these various wildlife spotting (including tracks) if everyone could get a photo and email it to us at endangerednj@gmail.com so that we could share them in a post

Unknown said...

Seen one this morning crossing the creek on middletown lincroft road in Middletown..

Anonymous said...

We had a fisher in our yard this morning. 206/Morris Ave area, Branchville, NJ. Not able to get a photo. We did film a Ciywolf in Feb 2018,

Ken Ronkowitz said...

We would love to see the coywolf video

Lake Mom said...

My husband saw a fisher cat near Norton Green State
Forest in Bloomingdale yesterday

Unknown said...

I deer hunt bear swamp Southampton township I see these fisher many times watched them go up and down trees going into squirrel nests a and any hole in the trees looking for something they can eat the few I seen are black

Terry said...

I saw one this morning I have video of it how can I report it I was walking my dog and it was behind us I turned to see what my ten lb dog was looking at and it ran away....I saw it last year right around this time of year.

Endangered NJ said...

Terry

You can email the video to us endangerednj at gmail if you'd like us to use it on the site

Unknown said...

While walking dog, he and I saw what appeared to be a Fisher Cat, (Thank you google) crossing Flocktown road north of Warwick Drive in Long Valley Friday afternoon. Neighbor said he hadn’t see it but looked it up last week because of the sounds he was hearing late at night. Didn’t have a chance to take a picture or video but it was surely different than anything we’ve ever seen in the area.

Unknown said...

I hear them at night all the time, plus seen two of them. They are a blackish brown color. Dave from Dennisville

Anonymous said...

Saw what I think was a Fisher cat running along the top of my fence in mendham borough the other day. My dogs were chasing it. It disappeared into some woods behind our house. My dogs are 20lbs each and this thing was bigger then them.

Anonymous said...

Saw a fisher cat in my lake community in Sussex county in May 2022 at night. Took me till June to figure out what it was. And we have been hearing it screams for two years thought that was a fox getting a cat or something. I am by bear swamp and I thought I was crazy for a month when I described it to people they looked at me like I was until one day a men said sounds like a fisher cat. One picture on the web and I was happy I wasn’t crazy. It was healthily size. Never had heard of them before.

Anonymous said...

saw a fisher cat south of stockton on bank of d&r canal. went back around to verify and show my wife. second sighting on canal on last few years.

Anonymous said...

7/26/2022-This was on Townsbury Rd, Great Meadows , Mansfield Twp on Ring camara alert at 1:30 this morning and thought it was the two farm cats I rescued on our property. I played the frame several times to figure out what this animal is. First resemblance is to a wolverine, but I know we don’t have them here. Definitely not a skunk or a fox. It had a distinct walk separate from the usual animals we see. It walked right past our back door. I will send video to the email you published.

Anonymous said...

I saw a fisher cat this afternoon in Green township, NJ (Sussex county)

Anonymous said...

Have a picture on trailcam,10/2 in Hampton twp.

Anonymous said...

Saw one in Cape
May Courthouse this morning….holy $&:&

jack said...

Saw a pair of Fisher Cats crossing Deans Branch Road in Belleplain State Forest this afternoon. Very clear view of them at about 25 yards distance. Had cell phone/camera with me but they were into woods before I could get a picture. Very striking animals, beautiful dark brown fur, long bushy tail. Quite a thrill.

Jack

Anonymous said...

Just captured a picture of a Fisher Cat in Lincoln Park (Morris County). Live in LP for 15 years n have been using a trail camera behind my house for tge past 10 years andcthis is my first ever pic of one. Thought it was a large mink but when I compared it to fox pics taken in the same spot I realized it was a lot larger. Pretty cool animals

Anonymous said...

I believe that I saw a fisher this morning, on the north side of the D&R canal, just west of the pedestrian bridge that is one mile west of Rocky Hill.

Anonymous said...

While driving down Hartford Road in Moorestown, I believe I saw a dead Fisher on the side of the road.

Anonymous said...

I saw(after careful research)a fishercat lurking and stalking a rabbit hole in my yard at late dusk tonight.I live in Cedar Grove,NJ and this sighting is extremely rare due to the most unfortunate development that has occurred in recent years.The final blow has occurred about 5-6 weeks ago when some greedy developer bought the last of privately owned 30 acre tract that was home to so many of Gods creature’s.Growing up here was so beautiful I cant put it into words.Even up to five years ago a friend(also a Cedar Grove native)and his neighbor spotted a bobcat on more than one occasion!Growing up here was Paradise and had turtles galore.Snappers,Painted and Box.Toads,frogs and giant bullfrogs.Not to forget beaver(fascinating to watch)and so much more.To watch it disappear is a relentless nightmare.I don’t mind saying there have been many tearful sleepless nights knowing these defenseless creatures are losing their lives.This last wood clearing took the last of the turtles.I can’t even look at it .Two people have reported broken turtle shells in the carnage.Idk how it’s even legal.Lastly ,my life is almost over but the young people of today will only read about that kind of life in storybooks

Morellicarmen2@gmail.com said...

I I live in Annandale NJ just outside Clinton, I heard what at first I thought was a fox but then realized it was a fisher as I've heard their call on many occasions. I went out with a flashlight and sure enough it was in fact a fisher. So happy that the population is coming back. So just for the people around Flemington look out for your chicken coops, there probably going to be raided soon and not for the eggs!! Let wildlife live. God Bless

Anonymous said...

Flemington now has Fishers!!

Anonymous said...

Saw a Fishercat twice this week at dusk on Carter Ln. In New Egypt NJ.One time it was chasing one of our furrel cats.

Anonymous said...

Pretty sure I saw one run across the road in Towaco 8/31/23. I had seen one almost exactly in the same spot a few years ago, but got a much better look at it this time. I don’t know what else it could have been.

Anonymous said...

I saw one tonight in Sparta nj on Rt. 669 near lime crest road.