Baby otter or fisher?

[roosiebull]

I saw this several years ago while summer steelhead fishing, I always assumed it was a baby river otter, but now I am curious, I saw a fisher on the same river last year, and got to wondering if this little critter was a fisher… any opinions?

 

[hiker270]

The face profile looks more like a Fisher.

 

[dutch_henry]

Neat spot! Always a pleasure to see baby animals in the woods.

To me, it looks like a fisher. I'm basing that on its more triangular snout (river otters have a more smooshed face) and on the ears (more pointed and positioned atop the head, whereas otters' ears are smaller, more rounded, and lower on the head).

I'm not a wildlife biologist, though have seen both pups and kits in the wild. I'm definitely open to corrections

 

[MTtrout]

Not otter. Fisher seems right but hard to tell the size of it. Could mink be an option?

 

[roosiebull]

Not otter. Fisher seems right but hard to tell the size of it. Could mink be an option?

Too big to be a mink, and a different looking animal than a mink, but this fur ball was bigger than an adult mink

 

[EastHumboldt]

Fisher or Martin.

 

[Scoot]

Yep- young fisher or martin. My guess is fisher.

 

[49ereric]

fisher

 

[S-3 ranch]

This is a otter my uncle found eating the fish in the pond
thought they were bigger?

 

[Z Barebow]

Too big to be a mink, and a different looking animal than a mink, but this fur ball was bigger than an adult mink

Fisher or mink. The only reason I throw out mink is fishers aren't necessarily associated with water. They are primarily squirrel killers.

So when someone sees big "mink" tracks going through the woods, it is likely a fisher. Conversely, if you think you see fisher tracks along a river bank, they could be mink. (You will likely see the trail drag from an otter)

 

[roosiebull]

Fisher or mink. The only reason I throw out mink is fishers aren't necessarily associated with water. They are primarily squirrel killers.

So when someone sees big "mink" tracks going through the woods, it is likely a fisher. Conversely, if you think you see fisher tracks along a river bank, they could be mink. (You will likely see the trail drag from an otter)

This animal was about 200 yds above the river. I have seen a lot of mink, and it wasn’t a mink. I also have only seen mink on the lower stretches of rivers, never seen one high on a river system around here… they may be around, but I have never seen them up there.

I took some video too, I will try to find it and figure out how to post it.

 

[Z Barebow]

This animal was about 200 yds above the river. I have seen a lot of mink, and it wasn’t a mink. I also have only seen mink on the lower stretches of rivers, never seen one high on a river system around here… they may be around, but I have never seen them up there.

I took some video too, I will try to find it and figure out how to post it.

My money is now on fisher! (Per location)

 

[FLATHEAD]

NOT an Otter.

 

[West18]

Sent this pic to my brother who's a biologist, studies martens. He asked if it was near water and followed right up with - looks like a baby mink

 

[FLATHEAD]

Head looks too big for a Mink, IMO.

 

[dr.mooseknuckles]

Not an otter, they do not have pointed, forward setting ears


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[roosiebull]

Sent this pic to my brother who's a biologist, studies martens. He asked if it was near water and followed right up with - looks like a baby mink

It was bigger than an adult mink

 

[West18]

It was bigger than an adult mink

Must not be a baby mink then. I was just passing on what he thought it was with very little context.

 

[Will_m]

Looks like a mink

 

[Crusader]

NOT an Otter.

NOTter