Name that Critter!

Factual Questions
1

In 1997 I went on a camping trip to the Boundary Waters National Canoe Wilderness with my uncles. For those who haven’t been there, the Boudary Waters are a wilderness in north east Minnesota on the Canadian border.

One particular day we limited out on Walleye. We cleaned them and put the heads and guts in a plastic bag near the shore. You are supposed to bury the guts in the ground, but we were being lazy and had them sitting on the shore.

It was night and we were cocktailing around the fire when we heard a rustling down by the shore. I went down to investigate and saw a small ferret like animal eating our fish guts out of the plastic bag.

I ran up to the camp and grabbed my camera and took the following pictures:

http://www.fishfearme.com/1997-63.jpg

http://www.fishfearme.com/1997-64.jpg

http://www.fishfearme.com/1997-65.jpg

http://www.fishfearme.com/1997-66.jpg

http://www.fishfearme.com/1997-67.jpg

What the heck is this creature? I do not believe it was an otter. At one time I thought maybe it was a fisher, but it looks too small.

I have been wondering about this for seven years and am hoping one of my SDMB friends has a clue.

Help!

2

Yep, that would be a Fisher … kinda like a mink. they are all over where I live in New England.

3

re-reading your OP…I would not base your not thinking it’s a fisher on size…animals have teenagers too! Your picture just looks like a juvenile.

4

Thanks Phlosphr,

I did a google on Fisher before posting my op and all the pictures I looked at looked slightly different than my critter. Your picture is much closer to how this animal looks, so I think you are right.

I can’t believe the Fisher mommies and daddies let their teenagers out to loot through garbage! On a school night too!!

We don’t get Fishers in Chicago, so this guy was new to me. I was extremely surprised the Fisher didn’t even flinch when I was taking flash pictures of him in the darkness. I expected him to bolt after the first flash, but he didn’t even flinch.

5

I think a long lost cousin of the Fisher is the Wolverine…waaay far removed of course. And they are known for their staunch stubborness and bravery…

6

As others have said, a juve fisher seems likely - but the American marten is worth considering.

7

Raygirvan,

That is a great photo. Now that I have done a little research, I am still in doubt. The Fisher and the Marten are close relatives, but according to this site:

http://www.zoo.org/educate/fact_sheets/fisher/fisher.htm

“The fisher is a close relative of the marten. Similar in structure and body proportions, the fisher is nearly twice as large as a marten, and four times as heavy. Their coats also differ. The fisher’s coat is very dark brown to blackish brown with gold to silver hoariness on the head and shoulders. Fishers have strong, moderately large feet with hairy soles. Each foot has five toes that terminate in sharply curved, partially retractable claws. The legs and tail are black. The chest has a variable cream-colored patch.”

The animal I saw was pretty small, which leads me to believe it may be a Marten. However, everything I read leads me to believe Martens are much rarer than Fishers.

Also this web site:
http://www.yahooligans.com/content/animals/species/3911.html

mentions that Fishers don’t eat fish:

“Nobody knows why the Fisher got its name, for it doesn’t eat fish. Its favorite foods are Common Porcupines and Snowshoe Hares”

Since this website is targeted to children, I take it with a grain of salt.

The mystery continues…maybe I discovered a new species and I can name it robbabapus?