It's not everyday that you look in your backyard and see one of the Hudson Valley's most elusive predators walking on water.

While "walking on water" might be an exaggeration (as you'll see in the video below), there are a few other characteristics of the animal that make them seem like magic.

A backyard camera in Esopus, NY recently caught an elusive predator on camera (Jean Miller Spoljaric via Facebook)
A backyard camera in Esopus, NY recently caught an elusive predator on camera (Jean Miller Spoljaric via Facebook)
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Fascinating Predator Caught on Camera in Esopus, NY

While larger animals like black bear and even moose might steal most of the local wildlife headlines, there are some smaller creatures that are just as fascinating, like the predator recently spotted in a backyard in Esopus, NY in Ulster County (below).

Fisher Seen on Backyard Camera in Ulster County

"Had a [fisher] in my pool area!! Kind of crazy- he was quite large, probably with the tail about 3 ft long", a Hudson Valley resident shared on Facebook. They also shared what they considered to be quite the magic trick.

Famous Fisher "Magic Tricks"

"Even crazier he escaped under our pool gate, only 2 1/2” inches of clearance between the bottom of the gate and the stone patio", they marveled (below). Other residents related similar experiences.

Video showed how easily the fisher slipped through a small crack underneath the pool gate (Jean Miller Spoljaric via Facebook)
Video showed how easily the fisher slipped through a small crack underneath the pool gate (Jean Miller Spoljaric via Facebook)
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Fishers in the Hudson Valley, NY

"That’s why they can be so deadly to a chicken coop, they can fit through incredibly tight spaces", cautioned one commenter. Another recommended reporting the fisher to a program launched by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC).

NYS DEC Furbearer Sighting Survey

The NYS DEC are conducting a "furbearer sighting survey", and are collecting information about activities of certain animals (like fishers) in New York State. The "furbearer" category refers to animals legal to hunt for their pelts in the state.

A recent project by the NYS DEC involves catching, tagging, and releasing New York fishers (NYS DEC via Facebook)
A recent project by the NYS DEC involves catching, tagging, and releasing New York fishers (NYS DEC via Facebook)
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NYS DEC Fisher Demographic Study

The NYS DEC have also recently conducted a fisher demographic study, digging deeper into the movements and activities of local animals. Fishers are caught, fit with tracking collars, and then re-released into the wild (below).

Bear on Campus at SUNY New Paltz NY

On Thursday (June 23, 2022) this unassuming good-size black bear wandered onto campus and decided to climb a tree. The SUNY New Paltz Police along with the NYS DEC Police monitored the situation on-site. They were able to encourage the campus visitor to return home without incident.

Gallery Credit: Paty Quyn

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