I saw an animal today that I have never seen before: I am hoping someone can identify it for me.

I set up my last stand this morning at my country property in Western PA. Once the stand was set I decided to enjoy the view for a few minutes. About 10 feet to my right is a overgrown pine tree: bare trunk for the first 30 feet and 10 feet of branches at the top.

I started to hear small debris falling from the top of the pine tree followed by a "scrabbling" sound and then I saw an animal scramble down the tree (headfirst) and take off into the underbrush.

In size and shape, it looked like a fox but the legs were shorter. It was dark brown in color with a medium long snout, thick fur, and a long, bushy tale. Obviously, it is an accomplished climber.

Anyone know what it was? The word "martin" comes to mind, but I'm not sure that I have ever seen a martin. I think I saw the same animal last year in the same area moving along the ground near sundown: I remember wondering if it was a black fox.

Whatever it was, it was very cool. These little surprises are a great part of hunting.

Squirrel.....

Fisher?
But you said it went head first down the tree? Then perhaps it was a marten:

It was definitely not the second picture.

It may well have been the first picture (a fisher), but it definitely went headfirst down the tree.

Thanks for the info!

Fox squirrels in the area?

It was probibly a fisher. Grey fox do climb tree's thought. Maybe it was a fox just darker.

I'd say a fisher...we have more and more of them here now.

definitely a monkey or an alligator....

duhhh, it was a cat smart one!

My guess is a fisher . With out a photo its hard to tell