What was this animal?

[Deb]

This quote is from Hydro's Trailjournal. She's in Maine.

What animal could this possibly be at that elevation?

Hydro, from my experience reading her, is a very credible observer.



"On to Baldpate Mountain. Wow—an intense experience! The trail is above timber line for one mile. High winds of 45 degrees on the Leki-meter and the rain is starting up again. I have to stop to put on my rain pants for warmth and I also put my spare socks on my hands. Baldpate is bald, and here I am scaling up steep wet rock again. This mountain must have an incredible view on a clear day. Near the summit I saw some kind of cat I can’t identify. The cat was stouter and slightly bigger than a house cat, all black with a bushy tail, high up in the Alpine Zone."

[SGT Rock]

My guess is a Lynx.

http://www.state.me.us/ifw/wildlife/...ynxhabitat.htm

[java]

I would think it was a Fisher Cat. Not actually a cat, but dark brown/black and has a bushy tail. Rather common in Maine.
I think we had a thread on them a few months ago.

[PKH]

Yeah - sounds like a fisher to me. It definitely wasn't a black lynx with a bushy tail. That would be something to see.

Cheers,

PKH

[Deb]

Thanks Java - your photo of a fisher cat matches the journal description perfectly. I'll forward your post to Hydro.

[TJ aka Teej]

The hiker probably saw a pine marten. Fishers are nocturnal, and are large and rare compared to pine martens. Pine martens leave those little 'squirts' of poop on rocks in the middle of trails in the Maine mountains. Elevations in New England aren't high enough to bar most animals, you'll see fox and bear above tree line in the Presidentials, coyote at Horns Pond, and moose on Katahdin's Table land.

[Blue Jay]

I'd also go with Fisher, Pine Martins are a much lighter brown.

[TJ aka Teej]

Dang it, I can't find a picture of a wet pine marten!

[HikerHobo]

Here are some pictures of some dry pine martens.


http://images.google.com/images?q=pi...=ii&oi=imagest

[plodder]

My $64 question for those who have seen a fisher up close and personal, or climbing a tree, "If it had your grub bag, would you kick it in the butt?" I am twisted this morning!

[Blue Jay]

My $64 question for those who have seen a fisher up close and personal, or climbing a tree, "If it had your grub bag, would you kick it in the butt?" I am twisted this morning!

A Fisher is the last animal I would go near. I was hiking in the Adirondacks at dawn, with a friend on Lower Wolf Jaw. We heard a screching sound over a rise. We had never heard a sound like that before and looked over the rise. It was two small dark creatures fighting over a frog. I dropped my pack, got my camera, ran over to the one that was left and started taking pictures as it was busy eating. My friend told me to get out of there as the mother had taken the other one while I was getting my camera. All of this took place in about 60 seconds. As I was getting up, I saw a flash to my right and yelled as I saw what looked like giant teeth about to sink into my leg. At the last moment she swerved, grabbed the baby and was gone. I have never moved sooo fast but if my friend had not been there I do believe I would have been torn up badly. They are absolutely beautiful creatures. I would try and get my food back from a bear (not that I would do that either) than from a Fisher.

[PKH]

You're right Bluejay. All members of that family of mammals (or is it order?) from the tiny weasel right up to the wolverine - when it gets right down to it, none of them know the meaning of fear.

Cheers,

PKH

[gr8fulyankee]

My $64 question for those who have seen a fisher up close and personal, or climbing a tree, "If it had your grub bag, would you kick it in the butt?" I am twisted this morning!

I had the unfortunate privalege of watching a fisher cat kill and tear apart a cat I had years ago when I lived in Gilmington, NH. I would suggest just letting it have your grub bag!

[Footslogger]

These pictures say it all to me ....

'Slogger


http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...lr%3D%26sa%3DN