fisher cat

[mktvr]

A friend of mine has been loosing chickens from his farm quite frequently. I know there are coyotes in the area, but the chickens are in a pen that is fully caged in. He said it appears he chickens were pulled through the fenceing. He also said that several fisher cats have been seen in the area. Does anyone have experance with these fishers? I hear they are fairly agressive animals. What is the best way to deal with them, hunting, calling, or trapping??
Thanks
Mike

 

[countertop]

damn!

The fisher cat is wiley, weasely and nasty. Had a whole bunch that lived up behind my house when I was in Vermont. Ran into one in the woods once and I was between it and its nest. He wasn't the least bit happy . . . . or scared of me. In fact, I was a whole lot more scared of him.

Anyway, check your local regs. They used to be hunted/trapped pretty heavily for their furs and may still be considered a furbearer in some places. Either way, a .22 will take care of them.

I know in some suburban areas in New England, there is a problem with them getting into fights with house cats (and winning) but a full grown chicken just seems a bit big/not their typical pray.

Has he thought about foxes? Where is he located?

 

[Matt G]

Uh, house cats can kill chickens.

Considering that the "fisher cat" lives on Squirrels, rabbits, mice, voles, carrion, fruits, mast (primarily beechnuts), porcupines, birds, and frogs, I would think that this particular weasal varient would have no problem with chickens.

Careful about popping one until you understand the cost. May not be worth it.

 

[Bigjake]

S.S.S.

your welcome

 

[Lummox]

There was a Fisher that had been killing our chickens. They are one of the hardest animals to hunt. They are very clever and are seldom seen in the daylight.

I was trapping Coyote's and accidently got a fisher. I shot him because I didnt dare try and release him (like I do with Racoons). I contacted the NH F&G and they said I was 2 days out of season and the pelts fetch about $200, so they just took it from me... No big deal.

They are the ONLY predator of the Porcupine. They kill them my running in circles around them (Porcupines use there tail to defend) so they get dizzy and then the Fisher goes in for the juggular. lights out.

If your friend wants to catch one, get some PSV-14 and an AR15 with a suppressor... hahaha..

 

[Rpriestlyjr]

Your friend needs to set some traps for those things. They won't leave until the food supply is exhausted. They do get larger than one would think, and being a weasel, can fit through just about anything. They sound like someone is really hurting a baby. Not like a frightened rabbit, but louder and freakish.
The way I've been able to tell (guess) if its a Fisher in the past is the ammount of squirrels. If last year there were squirrels everywhere, and this year you barely even see one, then you have a Fisher in the neighborhood. Their scat looks almost like moose droppings, but kind of like footballs. They do doody in their lairs, then clean out everything to the enterance.
And chances are that if there is one going for chickens, there will be another. They aren't territorial, but don't pack-hunt.