Fisher Followup

Fisher by http://www.ForestWander.com, CC BY-SA 3.0 us, Link

The fisher is a long-bodied and short-legged animal, with a bushy tail that makes up a third of its total body length.

People keep reporting their presence in New Jersey to me. (see other fisher posts) They are increasing in numbers, but a good percentage of the sightings are probably misidentifications.

They are not endangered and have no natural enemies. In NJ, their deaths are mostly from trapping by humans and vehicle collisions.

Here is some information that may help you with identification if you encounter them.

They are solitary creatures and have home ranges between 1-3 square miles, but usually don't overlap. They are territorial. They are active day or night.

Their dens are used year round, often using tree hollows, stumps, debris piles, natural crevices, and underground tunnels. Females with litters will use tree hollows that are far off the ground.

Males weigh in at 8-13 pounds and reach lengths between 35-47 inches, while females weigh between 3 and 7 pounds and are between 30-37 inches long. Males have grizzled fur due to blonde guard hairs on their neck and shoulders, while females are a uniform chocolate brown.

Fishers are predators and compete with coyotes, bobcats, foxes and even raptors and they will travel many miles and cross water to find food.

Fishers are a generalist carnivore species. They will eat anything they can catch which is usually small-medium-sized mammals and birds. They will also eat some carrion and nuts and fruits. In heavy snow conditions, they have been known to take down weak or injured deer.

One unusual diet note is that this is the only predator of porcupines in the country. The fisher will chase a porcupine up a tree until it can go no further and falls and then it will shoot down and attack the stunned porcupine in its unprotected underside.

SOURCE:  www.conservewildlifenj.org