Fisher

• Larger than the mink and American marten, the fisher's long fur makes its pelt valuable, especially that of the female. Like the American marten, the fisher is easy to trap.
• This furbearer is dark brown with a bushy tail, short legs, large feet, a wide head, a pointed snout, and small ears.
• Although it is a good swimmer, the fisher usually does not eat fish—contrary to its name. Instead, the fisher's primary food is porcupines, and it may spend two or three days feeding on one until the entire porcupine has been eaten.
• The fisher can be found in dense forests with coniferous trees or a mixture of coniferous and hardwood trees. It usually nests up high in hollow trees.
• Fishers are blind when born. When they are three or four months old, they are weaned from their mother. The male does not help raise the young.
• This is a very active animal, running along trails and logs. A good climber, it uses branches to move from tree to tree. It hides in holes, crevices, or underbrush.

Fisher Facts

• Mating: probably polygamous.
• Breeding period: March to April.
• Gestation period: almost 1 year.
• Birth period: late March to early April.
• Litters per year: 1.
• Number of young: 1 to 6 per litter; average 3.
• Age females can breed: 1 year.
• Adult weight: 3 to 12 pounds; male is about twice the size of the female.
• Life expectancy: about 10 years.
• Feeding time: primarily nocturnal but may be active during the day.
• Movement: home range 10 square miles but may go 50 to 150 square miles.
• Typical foods: porcupines, snowshoe hares, small mammals, carrion, birds, fish, insects, fruit, and nuts.