In a rare and thrilling sighting, an elusive predator once thought to be long gone from Pennsylvania has been caught on camera. A fisher, part of the weasel family and known for its stealth and fierce hunting abilities, was captured by a trail camera in Murrysville, a rural area outside Pittsburgh. This remarkable moment occurred in June but only came to light recently, marking one of the few sightings of the creature since it was reintroduced to the state in the 1990s.
Once eliminated from the Keystone State due to overhunting and deforestation in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the fisher’s return is both a testament to wildlife conservation efforts and a reminder of the delicate balance between man and nature. In the 1990s, conservationists brought nearly 190 fishers from New Hampshire to six locations in north-central Pennsylvania, hoping to restore the predator’s presence in the region. While their population has been slowly growing, actual sightings of these stealthy animals remain incredibly rare.
Bill Powers, who captured the footage on his property, was stunned when he finally reviewed the footage. Powers, who owns the trail camera company PixCams, often sets up cameras in remote locations for months at a time to see what wildlife passes by. “It’s like Christmas morning,” Powers said, referring to the excitement of discovering the footage. “It’s super rare to see one in this area, kind of like finding a needle in a haystack.”
Fishers, often mistakenly called “fisher cats,” are known for their prowess in the wild. These animals are one of the few predators capable of killing porcupines, thanks to their agility and quick reflexes. Fishers are also skilled hunters of smaller animals such as rabbits, squirrels, and birds. Despite their somewhat misleading name, fishers don’t actually eat fish. Their diet includes a mix of small mammals, birds, berries, and even nuts.
Measuring up to 48 inches in length, male fishers are the second-largest member of the weasel family in Pennsylvania, with only the North American river otter being larger. Powers estimates that the fisher he captured on camera was about three feet long. The presence of these animals, while rare, is a sign that Pennsylvania’s forests are slowly returning to a more balanced ecosystem after years of human interference.
Though small compared to other predators, fishers are no less fierce. A 2018 study even revealed that a fisher had taken down a much larger Canada lynx in Maine, showcasing the animal’s deadly efficiency. For those concerned about the wildlife in Pennsylvania, the fisher’s return is both a success story for conservation and a reminder that nature’s most formidable creatures often come in small, unassuming packages.
As Pennsylvania continues to witness the resurgence of once-lost species, the sighting of this fisher is a symbol of hope for a more balanced and thriving wilderness. However, it also serves as a reminder of the importance of managing both wildlife populations and human activity to ensure the long-term survival of these remarkable predators.
