Do fur trout really exist? Viral post fact-checked

A viral post claiming that a fisherman caught an extinct species of fish called the “fur trout” has sparked speculation online about the authenticity of the post and the origin of the alleged creature.

The images were posted in the Facebook group Casper Planet on August 23 and have already been shared over 7,000 times on the platform alone.

The post claims that a fisherman in the US state of Wyoming has caught the “elusive” fish, which has not been seen for more than 50 years. It goes on to say: “Known for its distinctive fur-like appearance, the fur trout once lived in the streams and rivers of western and northwestern Wyoming. However, by the early 1970s, the species was thought to be extinct. The fur was highly sought after by luxury clothing manufacturers, which led to its decline as it was used to make jackets, gloves and hats.”

It goes on to say that the angler who caught the fish wants to have it preserved as a memorial to the find. It concludes by speculating that the fish “may still exist in Wyoming waters, raising questions about the possibility of a small, surviving population.”

As you might have guessed, the Furry Trout doesn't exist. Casper Planet is also a parody site, and its intro makes this clear. It states: “We deliver the snews that don't matter, straight to your snews feed. Did we say this is satire? Satire,
Satire, humor, satire and opinion, names/places are fictitious.”

Perhaps even more interesting is that the furry trout has apparently been a long-standing joke on the internet, with posts and videos dating back several years. The story was even once presented as a credible story on a local news channel.

– YouTubeyoutube.com

Rumors about the fish have been passed down in folklore since the 17th century and there is even a website dedicated to the phenomenon.

How to join indy100's free WhatsApp channel

Sign up for our free weekly Indy100 newsletter

Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to move this article up the Indy100 rankings.