# Can you Identify this Animal? Fisher or Mink (pics) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 20, 2008, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-animal-fisher-or-mink-pics/442133 "2008-03-20T20:39:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-animal-fisher-or-mink-pics/442133/1 "2008-03-20T20:39:07Z")
I got a couple photo’s today of an animal that I’m not 100% sure what it is. It was photographed eating a duck, probably one of the Mergansers getting ready to head back up north…Anyway, he’s eaten several over the last week or so. So he’s hanging out near the salt water. This is [here](http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/Phlosphr/Fisher1.jpg) looking right at the camera, and [here](http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/Phlosphr/Fisher2.jpg) going back to eating. Sorry, can’t see the duck. So anyone think this is a Fisher? How about a Mink? I think it’s a mink because Fisher’s are bigger and woodland animals, they basically live in trees. However, his size is interesting. He was pretty darn big for a mink… ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-animal-fisher-or-mink-pics/442133/2 "2008-03-20T21:03:13Z")
Location? ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-animal-fisher-or-mink-pics/442133/3 "2008-03-20T21:13:15Z")
[QUOTE=garygnu] Location? [/QUOTE] Connecticut, southeast coast. ---
**Author:** ![KRC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/45deac/32.png) [@KRC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KRC)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-animal-fisher-or-mink-pics/442133/4 "2008-03-20T21:18:56Z")
It looks like a mink to me–it’s got those small ears and that intense minkish gaze. I think fishers have slightly more pointed ears. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-animal-fisher-or-mink-pics/442133/5 "2008-03-20T21:28:34Z")
Well, since [this](http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/critter/mammal/minks.htm) sez that mink are 23 to 28 inches long, not including the tail, and weigh about 3 pounds, and that [this](http://www.fws.gov/sacramento/es/animal_spp_acct/fisher.htm) sez that fishers are 2.5 to 4 feet long and weigh 7 to 13 pounds, I’d guess it’s a mink. You were closer to it–was it the heft of a regular rabbit, or was it the heft of one of those hulking white domestic meat rabbits? ETA: Can’t go by the face and ears in the picky, as your fella’s a dead ringer for [this guy.](http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/fisher.htm) Size would be the determining factor, I’m thinkin’. ETA: Foxes weigh about 6 to 15 pounds. So was it the size of a fox, or the size of a large weasel? ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-animal-fisher-or-mink-pics/442133/6 "2008-03-20T21:31:31Z")
It looked like a lean cat…could have been 7-8 pounds… Maybe more with all that fur it’s hard to tell. I’ve seen Fisher’s that size…but never on the water… If it’s a mink…it’s a healthy mink. I should mention there were mink farms in this area several decades ago…nothing in the last 30 years. Alot of our mink population came from those farms. I’m just puzzled on this one. It’s big enough to be a large mink or small enough to be a juvenile fisher. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-animal-fisher-or-mink-pics/442133/7 "2008-03-20T21:35:20Z")
If your local minks have learned to scavenge in people-trash, like possums and raccoons, you could have a very healthy, well-fed population indeed. And ditto your fisher population. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-animal-fisher-or-mink-pics/442133/8 "2008-03-20T21:40:24Z")
[QUOTE=Duck Duck Goose] If your local minks have learned to scavenge in people-trash, like possums and raccoons, you could have a very healthy, well-fed population indeed. And ditto your fisher population. [/QUOTE] I see a lot less fishers than mink. Occassionally, when I am hiking on a farm or state land I’ll see a fisher. Mink on the other hand I see fairly regular when birthing season comes up…like now. But this guy was so big, I thought I’d get some other opinions. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-animal-fisher-or-mink-pics/442133/9 "2008-03-20T22:11:21Z")
You “otter” consider other possibilities. [http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC051911/marine\_otter2.jpg](http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC051911/marine_otter2.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2008, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-animal-fisher-or-mink-pics/442133/10 "2008-03-20T23:59:04Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] You “otter” consider other possibilities. [![](http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC051911/marine_otter2.jpg) ](http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC051911/marine_otter2.jpg) [/QUOTE] I don’t think so, not in Connecticut. Otters have a more benign expression that that beastie. I’m betting mink. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-animal-fisher-or-mink-pics/442133/11 "2008-03-21T04:15:05Z")
Definitely a mink. Mink have a [small white chin patch](http://dnr.state.il.us/orc/wildlife/virtual_news/images/mink/mink_near_water.jpg) which is evident (although inconspicuous) in both your photos. [Fishers](http://www.dfw.state.or.us/springfield/fisher.jpg), besides being larger, have a larger, more pointed snout and proportionately larger ears. ---
**Author:** ![Gbro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Gbro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gbro)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-animal-fisher-or-mink-pics/442133/12 "2008-03-21T04:51:17Z")
I am going to go with Fisher/mink… mink/fisher. As for by the water, That is where the fisher derived its name from. I just can’t decide with those pictures. A smidgen off topic but last weekend while ice fishing one of the guys grilled some Bobcat loins. We all got a nice bite size piece, and it was fabulous. I had hear of trappers eating bobcat and i can see why. Tasted like a very mild venison, and very tender.(no marinade) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-animal-fisher-or-mink-pics/442133/13 "2008-03-21T04:59:22Z")
[QUOTE=Gbro] I am going to go with Fisher/mink… mink/fisher. As for by the water, That is where the fisher derived its name from. I just can’t decide with those pictures. [/QUOTE] You yourself may not be able to tell, but as I said the photos are diagnostic. They show key field marks that indicate that it is definitely a mink, and that it is not a fisher. I don’t see any question about it. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-animal-fisher-or-mink-pics/442133/14 "2008-03-21T05:13:19Z")
[QUOTE=Gbro] As for by the water, That is where the fisher derived its name from. [/QUOTE] Actually, it probably didn’t. As has been mentioned, fishers typically live in forest and prey mainly squirrels, porcupines, and other rodents, rabbits, and other small mammals; they rarely eat fish. The name is most likely a corruption of the French _fichet_ or _ficheaux_, which refers to the pelt of a polecat. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-animal-fisher-or-mink-pics/442133/15 "2008-03-21T12:03:22Z")
**Phlosphr** –some feedback, please? ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-animal-fisher-or-mink-pics/442133/16 "2008-03-21T14:53:02Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] **Phlosphr** –some feedback, please? [/QUOTE] Otter are typically in the fresh water streams in CT. Farm streams, back woods streams…IIRC there is still a trapping season for them here, and this guy was not an otter. If a Mink, which lots of folks seem to think, he’s a rather large mink. Not unheard of in these parts, but **Colibri** brings up a strong case with the field marks being mostly the white patch under the chin, barely visible, and the elongates snout of a fisher being abscent form this little guy. The one other thing thatmay have made me think he was a fisher would have been his eating a duck - not a Merganser…but a female cormorant. Mink don’t generally go after ducks, they tend to stick to small er prey and scavenging. Bute little, guy, I should have taken a few more shots… ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-animal-fisher-or-mink-pics/442133/17 "2008-03-21T14:57:20Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] You “otter” consider other possibilities. [![](http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC051911/marine_otter2.jpg) ](http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC051911/marine_otter2.jpg) [/QUOTE] Definitely not an otter, which differs in a number of obvious field marks. (Your link seems not to work.) It may be worth mentioning that the Sea Mink, _Mustela vison macrodon_, formerly occurred along the New England coast, but was hunted to extinction by the 1860s. This was a large subspecies of the common Mink (or perhaps a separate species). The animal in the photo, however, does not show the reddish coloration one would expect of a Sea Mink. If it is unusually large, though, it may indicate some tendency for the species to be larger in a coastal habitat (whether due to selection or to better diet). ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2008, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-animal-fisher-or-mink-pics/442133/18 "2008-03-21T16:24:14Z")
[QUOTE=Colibri] Definitely not an otter, which differs in a number of obvious field marks. (Your link seems not to work.) It may be worth mentioning that the Sea Mink, _Mustela vison macrodon_, formerly occurred along the New England coast, but was hunted to extinction by the 1860s. This was a large subspecies of the common Mink (or perhaps a separate species). The animal in the photo, however, does not show the reddish coloration one would expect of a Sea Mink. If it is unusually large, though, it may indicate some tendency for the species to be larger in a coastal habitat (whether due to selection or to better diet). [/QUOTE] We have a large migratory bird population on the coast in front of my home. It’s wonderful to see all the waterfowl come in. Hooded Mergansers, Common Mergansers, Brants - we just saw our first Osprey. Early this year btw. Lot’s to eat as well, my guess is he’s dining on voles, shrews and mice. And scavenging the ducks.