Did I Just See a Fisher or an Otter?

Have you ever encountered an animal in your backyard or on a hike and not been entirely sure what type of creature you just saw? With a variety of small mammals making the New England woodlands and wetlands their home, it can be difficult to tell the difference with only a fleeting glance, so let's break down the distinctions between two of the most common: the fisher and the otter. The fisher has been previously known to many as a fisher cat, due to the early settlers mistaking it for a European polecat. In fact, though, it does not belong to the feline family but rather is a member of the weasel family. Despite the misnomer, fishers do not consume a diet of fish and don't live in water, preferring to prey on small mammals like mice, squirrels and rabbits, as well as birds. As omnivores, they'll also eat berries and are able to even hunt porcupines by avoiding quills with a specific frontal attack method. In the early 1900s, they were almost wiped out due to trapping and populations have also been victim to deforestation in New England, but they've made a comeback in the past decades. Their dark brown and furry bodies include short legs and a long bushy tail. They weigh only about 20 pounds, although their thick fur can make them appear larger, and they can have a lifespan of up to four years in the wild. While they spend most of their time on land, they are able to climb trees and are one of only a small number of mammals with the ability to rotate their rear ankle bones 180 degrees to aid in climbing. Elusive forest dwellers, they do not generally pose a threat to humans or larger pets, although chicken coops are another story. They are also solitary in nature and keep mostly to themselves, active primarily at night and in the early morning hours. They mate in the spring, and after a 50-day gestation, females birth between one and four kits in hollowed tree trunks. The kits are fully mature by five months and ready to forge their own paths in the natural world. While many associate fishers with an eerie screaming noise that echoes through the dark woods, wildlife experts say that sound is often a misattribution that's made instead by the red fox. Fisher noises are more often heard as grunts and hisses. Now, let's talk about otters. Another member of the weasel family, the North American river otter is the most aquatic of the species and can be found living near rivers, lakes, ponds and streams. Boasting the ability to swim underwater for a quarter mile, they can dive to a depth of 60 feet and stay underwater for up to four minutes. Additionally, they can swim at rates of six to seven miles per hour. They primarily feed on slow-moving fish, but also eat crayfish and other shellfish, as well as turtles, snakes, muskrats and young beavers. Active mainly at night, they can live up to 10 years in the wild. Otters are about 35 to 50 inches long with dark-brown, waterproof fur and a tan underbelly and muzzle, short legs, webbed feet for optimal swimming and a long tail. The males weigh between 15 to 20 pounds, while females are usually about 10 to 13 pounds. They mate in spring and females den near the water, birthing two or three kits. Otters are known to be playful animals that chase and wrestle each other and love sliding through the snow or muddy riverbanks into the water. Although identifying one of these fast-moving creatures during an encounter can be a challenge, it should be easier now that you know a few of the main differences between fishers and otters.