The Fisher

by Ginette Bars (June 2011)

A friend sent me some photos of a fisher, taken at her home in Hemmingford. She is one of the few privileged to have seen firsthand this discreet and mysterious animal.

The fisher (Martes pennanti) is a carnivorous mammal belonging to the mustelidae family (minks, wolverines, badgers, skunks, otters, etc.). Its habitat is coniferous or mixed forests of North America.

A male adult can weigh up to 12 pounds and his length can be up to 42 inches including the tail. His diet varies but is mainly composed of: rabbits, squirrels, mice, birds, fruits, nuts and some carrion. He likes porcupine, being one of its main predators. On the other hand he is the prey of the great horned owl, the lynx, the black bear as well as men who trap him for his fur.

The fisher is a solitary animal. It is most active during dawn and dusk hours of the day. It is agile for both climbing trees or moving between the various obstacles encountered in the forest. The female gives birth only once a year, the litter varying from 2 to 6 kits, the average being 3. Its life span is 10 to 11 years. Although not an endangered species, its habitat is threatened by logging.

If you have photos or stories to share with our readers, please contact me by email at cdcchdd@look.ca