OHIO — There are signs that fishers, a type of weasel, are returning to Ohio after a pregnant one was found as roadkill in February last year by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, according to a press release.

What You Need To Know

  • There are signs that Fishers, a type of weasel, are returning to Ohio

  • There have been recent sightings, and a pregnant one was found as roadkill in February last year by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources

  • Their population was wiped out in Ohio back in the mid-1800s

  • In order to monitor the population, the ODNR is asking the public to report any sightings of this creature as well as black bears, badgers, weasels and bobcats

There have only been a couple dozen sightings of these creatures in the past decade, and according to the ODNR, their population was wiped out in Ohio back in the 1800s. The sightings have occurred in the following northeast counties: Ashtabula, Columbiana, Geauga, Trumbull, Mahoning, Lake, Jefferson, Harrison, and Tuscarawas.

The release notes that the populations are moving west from their groups in Pennsylvania.

“The ODNR Division of Wildlife collects roadkill fishers found in Ohio, when possible, to determine age and test genetics,” the release reads. “In February 2023, biologists collected two roadkill fisher carcasses from northeast Ohio. Recently received laboratory results showed that one of those individuals was pregnant. The Division of Wildlife anticipates natural reproduction in fishers will be confirmed in the coming years or may already be occurring.”

In order to monitor the population, the ODNR is asking the public to report any sightings of this creature as well as black bears, badgers, weasels and bobcats.

“Report observations of these species, including photos or videos, to the Division of Wildlife via the HuntFish OH mobile app or at wildohio.gov. Please contact your county wildlife officer to report roadkill fishers. It is not permitted to collect roadkill carcasses.”

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