by Cleveland, OH — Cleveland Metroparks is drawing attention to a rare and historic wildlife sighting that experts say highlights the success of long-term conservation efforts across Northeast Ohio.
Rare Mammal Captured on Wildlife Camera
Earlier this year, a fisher, a forest-dwelling mammal related to weasels, mink, martens, and otters, was captured on a remote wildlife camera in Cuyahoga County, according to a Saturday Instagram post from Cleveland Metroparks. Officials confirmed that this marks the first verified sighting of a fisher in Cuyahoga County and within Cleveland Metroparks property.
Ecologist Jonathan Cepek of Cleveland Metroparks said the discovery is especially significant because “the Ohio Division of Wildlife confirmed that this sighting in Cleveland Metroparks is the first record in Cuyahoga County since the species originally disappeared in the 1800s.”
Why This Sighting Matters
Fishers were once native to Ohio but were believed to have been extirpated from the state by the mid-1800s. Cleveland Metroparks noted that the species vanished largely due to “unregulated harvest and loss of habitat.” Although dozens of unverified sightings have been reported across Ohio counties since the first modern report in 2013, confirmed documentation has remained rare.
According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the fisher is currently classified as a “Species of Special Interest,” meaning it is closely monitored due to its historical absence and slow population recovery.
A Sign of Successful Conservation
Officials say the fisher’s return reflects decades of conservation work aimed at restoring healthy ecosystems. In a statement shared by Cleveland Metroparks, officials emphasized the broader importance of the discovery, saying, “This is tremendously exciting, as this is yet another extirpated native Ohio mammal species to be documented for the first time in Cleveland Metroparks.”
The post further explained that “the return of fishers and other extirpated species like otters, bobcats and trumpeter swans are a result of conservation efforts and emphasize the importance of our healthy forests, wetlands, waterways and natural areas.”
Habitat and Behavior
Fishers are typically found in large, forested areas with dense tree canopies. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, they rely on tree cavities for shelter and dens. These mammals are agile predators, feeding on squirrels, mice, birds, and other small animals, and they play a vital role in maintaining balanced forest ecosystems.
The presence of suitable habitat within Cleveland Metroparks suggests that forest restoration and land management practices are creating conditions that support sensitive wildlife species once thought lost to the region.
What Happens Next
Wildlife experts caution that a single sighting does not confirm an established population, but it does signal encouraging ecological progress. Cleveland Metroparks and state wildlife officials will continue monitoring the area to better understand whether fishers are returning permanently to Northeast Ohio.
Conclusion
The confirmed sighting of a fisher in Cleveland Metroparks represents a milestone for wildlife conservation in Ohio. After more than a century of absence, the return of this elusive mammal underscores how sustained habitat protection and environmental stewardship can bring native species back from the brink.
