Fisher cat in MA? (Franklin, Gardner: house, fence, moving)

[sbBedford]

I saw one Dec 17 in my yard In Bedford Ma. I was out with my cat . It was about 30 feet away from me and my cat. I grabbed my cat an brought her in the house. I watched it for a minute or 2 . It just walked away to a nieghbors yard. Didn't realize they when even in my area.

[Flowing Mindspin]

I just recently heard about these for the first time, and I've been hearing about them a lot.

I wish people would keep their cats indoors where they are safe.

[lorilou]

My 15 year old daughter heard one a few months ago, while attending an evening bonfire. She was terrified! She described it as "the sound of a child being tortured by a demented lunatic" (yes, she has a flair for the dramatic). After researching them on the internet, she declined further invitations to this particular home.

[ProvGuy]

I've seen fishers in Rhode Island and I ran over a huge cat-looking thing in Rehoboth just two weeks ago (bobcat maybe?). I've even seen coyotes on the East Side of Providence when out for a morning jog! You'd be surprised the habitats these wild animals are adjusting to!

[VlyRoadKid]

I saw a large fisher cat--during the day!--when we lived in Barre, in the mid-90's. It was unmistakably different from any other animal, like a giant weasel: long body that undulated as it scuttled along the top of a stone wall in our back yard! It's fur was dark brown, with black tips. Our landlady wasn't surprised and told us that a few years earlier, two fishers had killed A HORSE...so yes, they could attack a human, esp. a child. We never let out kid outdoors after that without one of us. We also saw coyotes and a couple bears.

Regarding cougars, it wouldn't surprise me if they were around. I knew a young woman who had a research grant back in the early 80's, to find evidence of them in Quabbin. She DID find scat and deer kills, particular to cougars, but no visible evidence.

[piperspal]

a lady here in upstate NY near Albany was attacked by one last year as she was bringing her garbage out around dinner time. She was able to fight it off by using a garbage can lid, & her husband, I believe, shot it(?) But it did bite her on the lower leg & there was a photo in the paper of an animal control officer holding up the dead fisher cat. She did have to be treated for rabies.

we've also had reports of cougars &/or bobcats. I wonder if both animals have a large range t/o the northeast & travel around a good distance; or if they are more territorial but are just rapidly increasing in population?

[Kathy Gallagher]

I saw a fischer cat in my back yard in Medfield, we live on the edge of the woods. It had a squirrel in it's mouth and it was very creepy. I have a small Italian Greyhound that goes out right in that spot. My daughter and I were both horrified. I have also heard the screaming, just horrible.

[Coolhand68]

Foxes also make a very disturbing sound after a kill or when claiming territory. Sort of a cross between an owl and a child being tortured. The first time I heard it in my backyard it scared the $hit out of me. Next day I go out and see a half eaten rabbit in the yard. I was told by a local resident who also provided me with a link, that it was indeed a fox that I heard.

[anouk_pantoufle]

Wow - I just saw one in our backyard here in Nahant - in the afternoon (12 pm to be exact)! I have three dogs - one small one - so I'm going to make sure I'm very careful, esp. w/my smallest dog.

I wish I had thought of getting my camera. I was in our apt., and was so busy watching it wander around, eating leaves along the way, I didn't even think of it.

It was so cute looking, I never would have imagined how dangerous it could be if I hadn't read the posts on this forum.

[CoastalMaine]

Originally Posted by lorilou

My 15 year old daughter heard one a few months ago, while attending an evening bonfire. She was terrified! She described it as "the sound of a child being tortured by a demented lunatic" (yes, she has a flair for the dramatic). After researching them on the internet, she declined further invitations to this particular home.

Honestly, that's not having a flair for the dramatic in this instance. That's an apt description!!!! Been hearing them for 30 years in the Punkhorn Parkland here in Brewster, Ma!!! Creeps me out!!!!