9/19/07 - I live in Easton MA boarding conservation and swamp lands. The other day I was working in the yard and heard a screech that I thought may have come from one of our cats fighting with another cat. This has happened before but this time the sound was slightly different. More violent and louder than I had experienced before. Needless to say our cat has been missing since.

A couple of days later, my family noted that the Animal Control Officer was at our neighbor's house earlier in the day. Today, I asked my neighbor about it, wondering if they had seen a Coyote in the area and thinking that the Coyote may have eaten the cat.

It turns out that the neighbor called the ACO about a Woodchuck that was living under his shed. However, after I told him what I heard and that our cat was missing, he told me that he was out running early a couple of mornings before and was cooling down near the swap by our house when he saw a rabbit come flying out of the brush like something was chasing it. Then out came this brown furry animal chasing the rabbit. The rabbit and the animal disappeared back into the brush and shortly after the animal re-appeared with the rabbit in its mouth.

I asked if he thought it was a coyote or a fox. He responded by saying "no, I don't think so, it was brown, stout and bushy." My guess it was a Fisher and the noise I heard was the Fisher killing the cat.

When I was looking for the cat before I talked to my neighbor, I went into the side of the swamp from where I thought I had heard the noise coming from. I hadn't been back in the swap for some time, so when I went in I was surprised at the amount of game trails and deer tracks I saw. It's been so dry that the water level in the swap is way down and trails have been created in areas that were previously impassable. This weekend I plan to go back to see if I can see any tracks that may provide more evidence that a Fisher is around.

If I find anything I'll let you know.

Hi Heather and everybody - My husband and I are absolutely devastated - like Heather we have also just lost 3 cats in two weeks. They were our babies - older cats , always been outdoors - very outdoor smart and also had a cat door so they could come in anytime. STILL they are missing. My husband has searched for hours out in the woods - no signs of any struggle, no telltale hair or carcass - absolutley no signs. We are definitely thinking fisher cat - they have been seen in the area. Even so very devastated - keep your cats safe!!!

I live in Saugus and my house abuts Conservation land and the Lynn Reservation as well and this morning my dogs were barking like crazy and so I went to see what they were barking at and up in the tree was a Fisher Cat. I went in and got my camera and took a picture but it did not come out too well, but you can definitely tell it is a Fisher Cat. At night when I do let my dogs out they fly to the fence and sprint back and forth at some smell and I can only assume that this animal comes in the yard often at night. I did see them chase what I thought was a regular cat through the yard and almost caught it (thankfully they did not) and that thing flew. It is cute in its own way yet pretty scary too. Very long claws. It climbed down the tree backwards and then climbed back up. Apparently it did not realize that it could climb down and just run away because it was on the other side of the fence. I am already paranoid about the coyotes never mind this thing. I also have a cat and it has gotten out a few times and after seeing this thing I will definitely do all I can to make sure he does not get out.

We have fishercats in MIDDELEBORO,MA If your keeping score

Just saw a fisher this morning, here in Lancaster, MA. A neighbor saw one last year, I think, so they're around. Not too happy about that at all!

My family lives in Amherst MA and lost a beloved cat to a Fisher in August 2007. Her remains were found along with another cat carcass so at least my family has some closure as to what happened to her; "Misty" was found by another resident about four days after she failed to return home. The resident wisely photographed the remains (in case the owners were located and were looking for closure) and took the bodies to the police station. My family found out about it some time later when they were canvassing the neighborhood door to door. My sympathies go out to those of you whose pets were never located.

My family lives in the woods (Echo Hill) and apparently there has been a Fisher in residence for at least 18 months that has killed a number of neighborhood cats. One family alone has lost 3 cats in the past two years and is heartbroken, afraid to adopt another. I encourage everyone in the neighborhood to keep their pets indoors (especially at night) until the situation is under control.

I think it's ridiculous that such an animal is allowed to terrorize an entire neighborhood's pet population. If you live in Amherst and agree then I encourage you to contact the wildlife department to voice your opinion.

Voluntown CT (Adjoining Pachaug State Forest and Pachaug River)

Yesterday morning (around dawn - 6:30am) I heard what sounded like a small breed dog barking - it was clearly a bark - a little high pitched and frequent. I thought it a neighbours dog (though they are inside dogs and live 1/2 mile away).

Tonight around 2am I heard the same barking noise - sounded again like it was only 50 yards from our isolated house. I went outside (with search light) and whistled and called thinking it to be a dog as I could still hear barking. I could see a pair of small yellow eyes from a creature that was low to the ground. It looked to be brown and while about the size of a small breed dog was not a dog. It stared at me a little while (a tad unnerving) before hiding or borrowing in a pile of stones.
I am curious if anyone knows what this may be. As I say I really do not believe it to be a dog though the sound it made was very similar. We have seen several fisher cats and foxes around twilight in the area in recent months. Coyotes and a bobcat are also in the area.

We have a large street wise cat that we allow to walk on the roof of our house by day (via an upstairs deck) though we keep a screen door closed at night as the door leads to our bedroom. (reading that Fishers will break in through screens makes me reconsider this practice as our house is scalable). We do not allow our cat in the yard at all as I love the local wildlife too much (we have a neighbours car who will devistate our beloved wildlife unfortunately).

Might be a consideration for those who see Fishers as evil for attacking cats to think about the wildlife being hunted by your kitty - Not defending Fishers but be aware that cats are born hunters.

We also have a small dog who yesterday morning was very agitated about something under our ground floor deck. Our dog never barks yet he was barking up a storm. (thinking more about it he may have encountered what ever it was that had been barking a few hours before he was put out on the deck). I investigated soon after but found nothing.

I am very cautious about leaving the dog or cat outside any later than dusk - I figure the risk is not worth it. But I am getting a little more concerned following these most recent events. My wife feels we should allow the dog out on the deck even if we will be returning home after dark but I can picture coming home to an unthinkable scene one day.

I am very sorry to those who have lost beloved pets.

I appreciate any ideas as to the identity of this barking critter. My understanding is that Fisher Cats tend to squeal and shrill. Cant find anything about barking.

OK - I answered my own question - Barking creature - FISHER CAT !!

Found a recording of (what I have been advised to be) a fisher cat

Would some one tell this poor dumb f***** from the mid-west, who by the way has two PhD's, what the f*** is a Fischer cat? I have had a house cat , including early-feral cats since I was 5 years old. Can someone please provide me some info. here...?

Try here What did porcupines ever do to anyone?

It's terrible.

This guy showed up over a week ago in my back yard and has been here nearly every day since. I took a photo of it yesterday but this site will not let me post the image or apparently the link either.