Fisher Cat

[Cherib603]

Fischers are evil devils with a scream like someone is murdering a baby.
Bloodcurdling.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Fischers are evil devils with a scream like someone is murdering a baby.
Bloodcurdling.

Yes they are! Had one move into the "barn" for a week last year. Was going to shoot it as my boy was coming that weekend and is usually fearless chasing animals. Well he heard the low long guttural growl of the Fisher when we walked by and stayed far from the barn all weekend.

BTW, no birds were taken by that or family of raccoon that came by last week or the pack of coyote that swings by every now and then...coop closed at night and a fence that any of those animals could climb over in day time. Odd how those primarily night predators never took a bird here in two years of having them. One run is a 6 ft chain link huge old dog kennel and other run is 4 ft electric poultry netting. Not one loss and everything from weasel to bear. Coop door closed every night

If I leave an egg on the coop over night it's eaten by morning. Yup, plenty of predators that easily get into the run.

 

[Millworker26]

I am pretty sure this is what I am dealing with. It's our first predator too. I will set two
Live traps tonight and bait them. I always have empty live traps set but I think I will lure one in tonight and see what I catch. Good idea or not?

Chickens are secure in a shed/coop with no way in unless they chew a hole through it. So far no chicken loss!

Nah. I'm sure your wife has better things for you to do with your time than capture the wildlife, which is a guaranteed outcome. If your system ain't broke then there's nothing to fix.

 

[dekel18042]

I am located in northern PA. On the NY border. A small town called Tioga

Yes, Pennsylvania seems to be the new fisher hot spot. They released them in the northern areas including the Poconos and now they have expanded southward.

 

[1ADAM12]

Just awesome lol I just baited traps. Put them on wood line. Will let you all know tomorrow. My luck I will get skunks.

 

[1ADAM12]

So I set a bigger trap and a smaller one. The smaller one was tripped with nothing inside. The larger one was untouched. We did hear the same noise as the previous night though. Not sure what this critter is up too!!

 

[Millworker26]

So I set a bigger trap and a smaller one. The smaller one was tripped with nothing inside. The larger one was untouched. We did hear the same noise as the previous night though. Not sure what this critter is up too!!

Was the bait removed from the smaller trap?

Is your large trap large enough to capture a fisher? Aren't they fairly long animals, 3+ ft. In length?

 

[1ADAM12]

I am not sure of the size. Someone said they are like a large cat size. The bait in both traps was not disturbed.

 

[Cherib603]

They are like giant nasty weasels.

 

[Millworker26]

I am not sure of the size. Someone said they are like a large cat size. The bait in both traps was not disturbed.

Assuming you are using cage traps? Found a Best Practices document for fisher trapping, recommended cage trap size is cited at 32" x 10" x 12.75". The animal is very long, but 1/3 of body length is tail.