Unsettling, high-pitched screams are often heard emanating from wooded areas at night. While commonly attributed to the fisher cat, this distinctive vocalization is a subject of widespread discussion regarding its true origin and meaning.
Understanding the Fisher Cat
The fisher cat, scientifically known as Pekania pennanti, is a medium-sized mammal belonging to the weasel family. Found primarily in the boreal forests of North America, these animals are solitary and primarily active during the night. Fishers possess a sleek body, short legs, and a long, bushy tail. They are agile climbers, yet they spend most of their time foraging on the forest floor. Fishers are opportunistic predators, with a diet that includes small mammals like rodents and hares, birds, and even porcupines, which they are one of the few predators capable of hunting.
Unraveling the Scream
The sound commonly associated with the fisher cat is often described as a high-pitched, guttural scream, sometimes compared to the cry of a distressed child or a woman. This alarming vocalization can carry over significant distances. Despite widespread belief, scientific research indicates that the blood-curdling scream popularly attributed to the fisher cat is largely a misconception. Fishers generally do not produce such loud, high-pitched screeches.
The sounds commonly mistaken for a fisher cat’s scream are most frequently produced by other animals, particularly the red fox. Red foxes are known for a wide range of vocalizations, including a distinctive scream or “vixen scream,” which can be quite startling. While fishers do vocalize, their sounds are typically much less dramatic, consisting of low chuckles, hisses, growls, and occasionally a crooning sound, often used during moments of excitement or aggression.
The ‘Why’ Behind the Call
The popular belief that fisher cats emit screams often links these sounds to specific behaviors, such as mating, territorial defense, or distress. When people hear a high-pitched scream in the woods, they frequently attribute it to a fisher cat seeking a mate during the breeding season, which occurs from late winter through early spring. The idea also persists that these sounds serve as a warning to other fishers or potential predators, marking a territory or signaling an intent to defend it.
Another common assumption is that a fisher cat’s scream indicates a moment of distress, injury, or an encounter with a threat. This is especially prevalent in stories suggesting the sound is made just before or after a kill. However, these interpretations are generally based on the misidentification of sounds primarily made by red foxes, which do use their distinctive screams for communication, including during mating season and as a territorial display. Fishers, being largely solitary and secretive animals, rely more on scent marking to communicate territorial boundaries rather than loud vocalizations.
What to Do If You Hear One
Encountering an animal vocalization that sounds like a scream can be a startling experience. If you hear such a sound, maintain a respectful distance from the source. Wild animals, including fishers, are generally shy and prefer to avoid human contact, but they may become defensive if they feel threatened or cornered.
Keeping pets indoors, especially at night, can help avoid potential interactions with wildlife. If an animal approaches, making loud noises such as clapping or yelling can often deter it without harm. Understanding that these sounds are a natural part of the nocturnal environment can help reduce alarm, as hearing such vocalizations is often an indication of healthy local wildlife populations.