Described as fierce, It hasn't been seen in Iowa since the 1800's, until now.

The last documented sighting of one of these in Iowa was almost 150 years ago:

Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
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It's called a "fisher," and was captured by a trail cam in Allamakee County in November, with the photo just released by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The DNR describes a fisher as a "cousin to the weasel, otter, and mink, and they are known for their fierceness."

According to wikipedia, both sexes of fishers are similar though males can reach 13 pounds while females typically top out at eight pounds. Despite their name, they rarely eat fish, instead, feeding on fruits, mushrooms, and small animals. They even successfully hunt porcupines.

Why did they disappear from Iowa in the 1800's? It could be because of their fur. They became extinct in some parts of the northern U.S. because of the value of their pelts. While still not covering all of their original territory in Canada and the northern U.S., they have made a resurgence as far as southeast Minnesota so it's not a giant surprise to see one in Iowa. I think it's great because, though they're "fierce," they pose no threat to humans.

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