We are being invaded by strange animals!

[KDK241]

I was outside looking at my garden and one of the baby robins was following me like usual. I looked up and there was a large, weasel looking animal about 20 feet from me in the yard. It was coming towards me but when I moved it ran into the woods in the back yard. I have never seen anything like it before. It was dark brown/black, the body was about 2 feet long and it had a long tail that was about another 2 feet long. It was about 1 1/2 feet at it's back and it had a round head with "teddy bear" ears. It had some decent sized teeth too and a longer nose. It looked like a cross between a bear and a ferret with a tail like a cougar. After looking on the net I found out it is a Fisher which is NOT found around here. It totally freaked me out and now I am worried about the baby robins. We have had something that has been killing our wild birds and leaving the ripped off wings behind and I am thinking that this is it. We have also noticed there are fewer squirrels as well. We haven't seen a single baby bird all spring and I'm thinking this is the reason. We never used to have opossums around here either until a few years ago, now they are everywhere. I called the DNR and they said we could trap it and move it on our own but they won't come and get it I have no idea how to do that but I want it gone! Especially since I think it was going after the baby robin with me standing 3 feet away!

Fisher (animal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

[macawlover]

Wow! Talk about scary! Could you buy a live trap? Then move it as far away as possible! lol

[greencinacheeks]

the only animal around where you live with a tail that big would be a Pine Martin...i have seen them in MN...when i visit family. Martins are "small" preditory animals like you described. long tails kinda like a BIG squirrel except it eats squirrels/eggs small animals etc....I personally think they are extremely fascinating animals....they are in the weasel family

here is some info on them...this look like it?

Pine Marten - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

pine martin - Google Image Search

The Wilderness Classroom » Pine Martin

Hope this helps!!!!

~Nate

[vle1170]

Did it look like this???

http://www.robertweselmann.com/images/pine_martin2.jpg

They are kinda cute, but I would be careful with your robin babies with it around.

[Kevin]

We have raccoons. Opussums, and Frequent coyote visits in our neighborhood....

Coons are fun though and harmless if you take the proper precautions with outdoor aviaries... Otherwise they just snag left over cat / dog food if their food dishes are out back.

[Gator]

Sounds like some sort of weasel. Maybe a Fisher. They are mainly in the Pacific Northwest, but habitat the Northern US in almost every northern state. I believe Fishers are a protected animal. Most likely a Pine Martin though. When I lived in the UP of Michigan, they were all over the place. Get a live trap and set it up where you saw it with some raw chicken legs in it. You'll eventually catch it (Probably after catching many cats, raccoons, etc )

[kellywess]

Originally Posted by KDK241

I was outside looking at my garden and one of the baby robins was following me like usual. I looked up and there was a large, weasel looking animal about 20 feet from me in the yard. It was coming towards me but when I moved it ran into the woods in the back yard. I have never seen anything like it before. It was dark brown/black, the body was about 2 feet long and it had a long tail that was about another 2 feet long. It was about 1 1/2 feet at it's back and it had a round head with "teddy bear" ears. It had some decent sized teeth too and a longer nose. It looked like a cross between a bear and a ferret with a tail like a cougar. After looking on the net I found out it is a Fisher which is NOT found around here. It totally freaked me out and now I am worried about the baby robins. We have had something that has been killing our wild birds and leaving the ripped off wings behind and I am thinking that this is it. We have also noticed there are fewer squirrels as well. We haven't seen a single baby bird all spring and I'm thinking this is the reason. We never used to have opossums around here either until a few years ago, now they are everywhere. I called the DNR and they said we could trap it and move it on our own but they won't come and get it I have no idea how to do that but I want it gone! Especially since I think it was going after the baby robin with me standing 3 feet away!

Fisher (animal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Those things (Fishers) have been known to attack and "eat" yes I said "eat" kitty cats.

[KDK241]

It's a Fisher. I thought about a pine marten at first but the pictures don't look anything like it. The Fisher pics are an exact match. They are mainly in the Pacific Northwest but they also live in Canada and waaaayyyy up north in MN so this one must have traveled quite a distance. They actually are not protected Federally anymore but some states protect them. They actually trap about 2,000 a year in MN because apparently there is a population of about 10,000 here. Who would've guessed? I got that info. from the DNR. I would get a live trap but I don't know if I can find one big enough. It was about 4 feet long from tip to tail. I'm going to try and come up with something, if only for the poor bird population that has been going down around here. Plus, when they find a spot to live they don't travel at all, they are solitary and have a territory of only 5-7 square miles so I'm thinking this one has pretty much set up shop here. Good grief, first it's the mole (who I STILL haven't caught) and now it's a Fisher of all things! Life is never boring around here that's for sure!

[greencinacheeks]

well hopefully you can do something about it....

oh and a fisher is a marten.... just not a pine marten...

[Ashling]

Hopefully the fisher will catch and eat the mole for you!
LOL at first I was imagining a wolverine! Your heart must have been thumping when you saw it! They look really freaky. Don't let your babies out unsupervised or near any secluded bushes- from the images of this animal, I wouldn't put it past him to dash out and grab one right under your nose!