What is this critter?

[hockeybc69]

I am a little puzzled by the length of the legs otherwise I would think mink possibly. Tail seems a bit long for a mink too. Thoughts?

[BronzeBrother]

Looks like a young river otter to me. Are you close to water? I could be way off though.

[hockeybc69]

I can tell you there are no rivers for a LONGG ways.

We have a lot of small potholes and wetlands.

There is a light creek about a half mile away, but as dry as its been I would be surprised if there was any water flow now.

[leech~~]

Maybe a Fisher. Or a Pine Marten?

But I think it is a Mink.

[CO1978]

That is a fischer... depending on the size (hard to tell in the picture.) I hunt in douglas co. and saw one a couple years ago two different times. The one I saw was bigger thanan otter. At first I thought it was a small wolverine. That was the first time I had ever encountered one in the wild. I didn't realize they were around central MN.

[hockeybc69]

Here are all the other pics I have gotten of them. The night pic there are 2 of them on the salt block if you look very close.

[hockeybc69]

[reinhard1]

i'd go with a fisher. pine martens usualy have lighter colored heads with a darker body. good luck.

[hockeybc69]

If it is a fisher,,,, obviously a very young one.

I know they are in the area. I know a trapper a few miles north of our place and he has gotten 2 in the area. Both are mounted, but they are FARRRR bigger than these though.

[Hoyt4]

Otter

[reinhard1]

it just seems a little big for a mink but could be. mink usualy get to be 24 inches as far as i know. now that i see them by the salt block mink would be more likely and i see you have more than one. adult fishers are normaly loners to my understanding but i'm no expert. i have seen pine martins but very few fishers [mostly up on the gunflint and one at bearhead state park]. good luck.

[Dave S]

Here's my so take it for what it's worth.

There's no way that's an otter and it's too small to be a Fisher, unless it's a juvenile but IMO the shape of the head is all wrong to be an Otter or a Fisher.

I'd say it's a Pine Marten. Regardless of species, you will tend to find color variations. Some more so than others.

[trappingaddiction]

What county did you get these pictures in?

[leech~~]

That is a fischer... depending on the size (hard to tell in the picture.) I hunt in douglas co. and saw one a couple years ago two different times. The one I saw was bigger thanan otter. At first I thought it was a small wolverine. That was the first time I had ever encountered one in the wild. I didn't realize they were around central MN.

Oberg, have you ever really seen a Wolvering in MN? I copied this statement off a site on the net. The last positive record of a

wolverine in Minnesota was from 1922 in Itasca County. ... Not sure if it's true or not. It would be cool to see one.

[hockeybc69]

Pic was taken in Ottertail County. East of Fergus Falls, north of Alexandria.

I have seen a badger on this same property while bowhunting. That was very cool.

[goblueM]

either a young fisher or a pine marten. I'd go with marten if I was pressed on it

[hockeybc69]

Every picture I have seen of martens when I have googled it, they have a throat patch thats much lighter. And the fur isnt as dark. Not to say color phases cant be a part of the wild, but I dont see marten being a possibility.

[reinhard1]

i gooled martins, fishers, and minks and the two possible critters that come close to that picture is a young fisher as some have said or large mink. martins do have a lighter head area and neck as you say but again is that when they mature or at all age levels. got a good thread here for all us experts. good luck.

[hockeybc69]

I put this on QDMA forums too, and overwhelmingly they said marten.... No way it is.

Very puzzling for sure.

[goblueM]

i said marten by process of elimination, its not an otter, too big for a mink, so its either a marten or a fisher. If its a fisher , it'd have to be a juvenile. I've seen marten pictures and one in the wild that didn't have very much lighter color on the face or chest. So thats why I'm sticking to marten

[Archerysniper]

Someone got sick of their pet ferret and dumped it by your hunting land

[certified jumbo]

i'd put my money on otter.

[Ray1]

Its a fisher. The nose mouth area is too pointy looking to be a mink. And it is definately not a otter.

[spivak]

I agree with fisher. Send these pictures to Scott Craven, Wildlife Ecologist at University of Wisconsin, Madison. He's not hard to find if you google him. He will answer your email and give you good information. He's answered similar questions for me. I listen to him the 1st Wednesday of every month on WPR: 11:00-12:30. We get WPR here in Duluth. Always interesting.

[spivak]

I went ahead and emailed him. I'll let you know if he writes back.