The story about the “fur trout” fish that’s been trending online isn’t real. A post on the Facebook group Casper Planet on August 23rd, has been shared over 7,000 times. Rumors about the fur trout have been around in stories since the 17th century, and there’s even a website all about it. Here’s why its not real:
The post claims a fisherman in Wyoming caught a fish that hasn’t been seen for over 50 years. The post says this “fur trout” had a unique fur-like appearance and was once common in Wyoming’s streams and rivers. However, it was believed to be extinct by the early 1970s because it was hunted for its fur, which was used in fancy clothing like jackets, gloves, and hats.
Here’s why the Fur trout isn’t real
The Facebook page were it’s posted ‘Casper Planet’ is a joke site and says right on it that its stories are fake and meant for fun. The page’s description says it’s all made up, including the names and locations.
Meanwhile, the fur trout has been a running joke online for years with fake posts and videos. According to the tale, this strange fish was discovered in very cold waters. To survive these harsh conditions, the fish supposedly evolved to grow a thick coat of fur to keep itself warm. It’s sad to see that some Local News Channel didn’t do their research well and posted the story as real.
Verdict
The Fur Trout fish isn’t real, but an image created with AI. There has never been a time when fishes had fur. It has always been scales. Fish do not have hair follicles that grow on the skin as mammals do. They do have hair cells, which are a totally different structure.
See latest fact checks: Teresa Caputo Real Or Fake