Mammal ID

[Van_Cleaver]

While fly fishing Chambers Lake in Southeast PA I had a fairly large, brown creature swim very close to me. I assumed it was a beaver as it was in that general size range and swimming in a similar manner. It was way too big to be a muskrat or mink. Anyway it spooked and dove suddenly revealing a furry, pointed tail. So maybe a river otter? I did see a very similar animal on the Tully once.

 

[acesedgley]

Muskrat? and I thought Hibernia Park was completely closed!?
If not I would love to get out on my kayak.

 

[gozu]

I'd go with a mink, I've had one suprise me in the park a few years back. We are probably to far south for fishers.

 

[Van_Cleaver]

I used to trap muskrat; it was too large and didn't have a whip tail. Also way bigger than a mink. The park is closed however the Lake remains open for fishing, and is more crowded than ever. The panfish bite is really sporadic in large part due to the weather.

 

[Fly-Swatter]

Fisher?

 

[afishinado]

Fly-Swatter wrote:
Fisher?

Regardless of the name, "fishers" are deep woods animals and not lake dwelling creatures.

 

[3sip]

Had the same thing happen to me. Swore it was an otter but it's a Fisher cat. I would guess.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisher_(animal)

 

[SteveG]

I've seen a fisher before, but it was not in the water. Then again, it wasn't a heavily forested area like they are supposed to be fond of either.

Of the aquatic mammals, I have seen muskrat, mink, and beaver up close numerous times. I would think they would be easy to identify for the average outdoors person. But, if visibility is poor and you only see a flash of fur, yes, identification could be tough.

 

[salvelinusfontinalis]

Anyones guess without being there.
Ill say this those kinds of encounters can be very invigorating.
Also scary, beavers can be very agressive.

Anyways neat story.

 

[Acristickid]

I’d go with fisher. Just saw one cross route 30 from Loyalhanna creek a few weeks back. Lotsa woods around Ligonier but not necessarily deep woods.

 

[troutbert]

afishinado wrote:

Fly-Swatter wrote:
Fisher?

Regardless of the name, "fishers" are deep woods animals and not lake dwelling creatures.

That's true. Fishers are not aquatic animals.

 

[Acristickid]

I see, maybe it was beaver Soaring on coffee.

 

[sgrim]

Van - I'd assume it was a beaver. I've seen them in the upper end, away from the dam.

 

[acesedgley]

Thanks for the tip about the lake being open....not surprised it's crowded. I brain farted when I said Muskrat right after you said you were sure it wasn't one.

I have not been out to fish at all mostly due to need for yard work to get done when there is time and not raining.

 

[Van_Cleaver]

Let's take this from the top.
I was raised on a farm, trapped muskrats and have seen minks; rule them out. The visibility was fine and I was close enough see it's face and nose and assumed it was a beaver since it was swimming like one, with only a small portion of it's head and nose exposed. When it dove the tail was fairly short and furry; that ruled out beaver. I have never seen a fisher this far south and would be surprised if one spent that much time cruising around. Looking at the picture someone provide here I'd say it's tail was a bit shorter as well.

 

[salvelinusfontinalis]

Fisher Beaver hybrid.

 

[ryansheehan]

ManBearPig is real!

 

[JimKennedy]

We have these nutria creatures down here in Maryland. Possibly they've invaded Pennsylvania. Look like half rat, half beaver, half walrus.

 

[sgrim]

Van_Cleaver wrote:
Let's take this from the top.
I was raised on a farm, trapped muskrats and have seen minks; rule them out. The visibility was fine and I was close enough see it's face and nose and assumed it was a beaver since it was swimming like one, with only a small portion of it's head and nose exposed. When it dove the tail was fairly short and furry; that ruled out beaver. I have never seen a fisher this far south and would be surprised if one spent that much time cruising around. Looking at the picture someone provide here I'd say it's tail was a bit shorter as well.

You just described a groundhog.
Quite unlikely but not impossible, and I'd believe that before a fisher in this neck of the woods.

 

[Steeltrap]

Mountain Lion....Defiantly a Mt. Lion.