It’s not every day we get to spot an elusive and endangered animal, but the Cleveland Museum of Natural History managed to catch a fisher on camera.

The caption details, “Trail camera spotted the first confirmed sighting of a fisher in Cuyahoga County, Ohio since the 1800s, according to Cleveland Metroparks. Park officials are describing the discovery as ‘tremendously exciting.'”

While the fisher is endangered, it’s still commonly found in other parts of its range, and many commenters jumped in to say they had seen the animal before. But a number of viewers had never heard of the beastie. Posters aptly compared it to a wolverine, marmot, or “The upstate New York honey badger,” as @_Sauce11 put it. Those who were familiar with this little guy explained his reputation, “Looks like a ferret just way bigger and meaner,” remarked @daddude. “This is not a tame animal, people, please do not try to pet it. It will attack you and will aim for your neck,” @slo.acc0rd added. Others referenced his scream though that might be a myth.

Related: Colorado Woman’s Surprise Encounter With Tiny Rare Animal Couldn’t Be Cuter

What is a fisher?

If you’ve never heard of a fisher, sometimes called a fisher cat, you’re not alone. (They aren’t related to cats at all and are actually part of the weasel family, though you can see how someone would make the mistake in the dark.) Native to North America, they have a fairly limited range and are now endangered because of overhunting and habitat loss. Fishers love forests and come out mostly at night, making it difficult to see them even for those in rural areas.

Part of the reason that fishers are known for being tough is their diet, which includes porcupines and rabbits, animals that can get bigger than the fisher’s 12 pounds. Those who have this critter in the area should be careful about letting cats and small dogs out, as they could become fisher food.

Luckily for us, we were able to see a true fisher in his native habitat thanks to this trail cam video.

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This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Dec 20, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.