A fisher has been spotted on surveillance cameras at Cleveland Metroparks in Ohio, United States, marking the first sighting of this medium-sized creature in over a century.
Cleveland Metroparks shared the video on social media, expressing their excitement. These animals are native to North American forests and disappeared from Ohio during the mid-1800s. They are exclusive to Canada and the United States, with no recorded sightings in Britain or elsewhere in Europe.
The Ohio Division of Wildlife confirmed that this recent sighting in Cleveland Metroparks is the first on record in Cuyahoga County since the species vanished in the 1800s. Designated as ‘Species of Special Interest’ by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the fisher was believed to have been eradicated in Ohio by the mid-1800s due to unregulated harvesting and habitat loss.
The return of fishers and other once-extinct species like otters, bobcats, and trumpeter swans showcases successful conservation efforts and underscores the significance of maintaining healthy forests, wetlands, waterways, and natural areas in Cleveland Metroparks.
Though often referred to as “fisher cats,” these creatures are not felines but are part of the weasel family.
According to Scenic Hudson, fishers are solitary creatures and do not frequently consume fish. Their diet includes fruits, reptiles, amphibians, birds, bird eggs, mushrooms, squirrels, and other mammals.