Fisher Cat Does So Well Here
6-Day Season Planned In Fall
By JIM KEVLIN • for www.AllOTSEGO.com
GARRATTSVILLE – The fisher cat became so rare everywhere except the Adirondacks, no trapping of the weasel relative was allowed between the mid 1930s and late 1940s.
In the 1970s, 50 were transplanted to the Catskills. In the 40 years since, they have migrated to Otsego County and multiplied to the point that a six-day trapping season is contemplated this fall to keep the tough and wily predator population from growing out of control.
That was the story that DEC Senior Wildlife Biologist Mike Clark brought to the New Lisbon Town Hall this evening, where more than 50 people had gathered to hear him, many seeking confirmation that they had seen a fisher. Or was it a mink? many were wondering by evening’s end.
The trapping season is being considered after a three-year study – the state’s Fisher Cat Management Plan was only released in December found the “very strong” animal, “all muscles,” was thriving in every rural part of the state except Long Island.
Next, said Clark, DEC will probably be looking locally at the health of the otter and, also, wild turkeys, whose poults – the baby birds – have been unable to survive wet springs.
The evening was sponsored by the Butternut Valley Alliance. One of its leaders, former county Rep. Ed Lentz of Garrattsville, who allowed his land to be used in the study, but no fishers were found. After the study ended, however, Lentz reported hearing “the awful screeching” of the nocturnal animal on an evening’s walk.