Fisher Cat: What It Is, Sound & Why It’s Not a Cat 2026
Despite its name, the fisher cat is neither a fisher nor a cat. It’s a large weasel-family carnivore (Pekania pennanti) native to North American forests. Famous for an eerie nighttime scream that many mistake for a woman or child in distress, fishers are increasingly common in suburban areas near wooded land.
This guide is for informational purposes about wildlife. Fisher cats are wild animals and should not be handled or kept as pets.
What Is a Fisher Cat?
The fisher (Pekania pennanti) is a medium-to-large member of the Mustelidae family — the same family as weasels, otters, minks, and wolverines. It is not related to cats at all. The “cat” in its name may derive from an archaic use of the word to describe weasel-like creatures, or from the French word fichet.
| Characteristic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pekania pennanti |
| Family | Mustelidae (weasel family) |
| Size | 4–13 lbs; 29–47 inches including tail |
| Coat | Dark brown to black; grizzled face |
| Lifespan | 7–10 years in the wild |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern (recovering) |
The Fisher Cat Sound / Scream
The “fisher cat scream” is one of the most searched wildlife sounds online. However, wildlife experts note that the most viral “fisher cat screams” circulating online are often actually red foxes, which produce a startling bark-scream during mating season (January–March). Actual fisher sounds include: short barks, low growls when threatened, and occasional high-pitched chitters. If you hear a terrifying nighttime scream in early spring, a red fox or great horned owl is more likely the source.
Habitat & Range
Fishers are native to North American boreal and mixed forests. Their range includes Canada, the northeastern United States, the Great Lakes region, and parts of the Pacific Northwest. They were nearly extinct by the early 20th century due to over-trapping, but conservation efforts have significantly recovered populations, and fishers now frequently appear in suburban areas adjacent to forests.
Diet & Hunting
Fishers are opportunistic carnivores. Their diet includes snowshoe hares, squirrels, mice, voles, birds, eggs, carrion, and berries. They are one of the only predators capable of regularly killing porcupines — they attack the porcupine’s face in rapid, repeated strikes. Fishers do not hibernate and remain active year-round.
Are Fisher Cats Dangerous to Pets?
Yes — fishers can and do prey on domestic cats and small dogs in rural and suburban-rural fringe areas. Small pets left unsupervised outdoors at night are at risk in areas with known fisher activity.
How to protect your pets:
- Keep cats indoors, especially at night
- Never leave small dogs unsupervised outdoors after dark
- Secure chicken coops with hardware cloth
- Remove attractants: secure garbage, remove bird feeders
- Install motion-activated lights around outbuildings
Find veterinary clinics near you for advice on protecting free-roaming pets.