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Fisher, Martes pennanti, a large marten, is found only in North America. Common names include fisher cat, black cat, and pekan.
The fisher’s long, slender body, short legs and elongated, bushy tail are usually dark brown to nearly black. The tail, rump and feet are darkest, in contrast to the head and shoulders, which are lighter in color. The underparts are brown sometimes with small white spots. The broad head with a button like nose, short rounded ears, small eyes, large feet, and narrow curved claws complete the description of the fisher. Some may also have a cream chest patch. Their face, like the marten, is lighter in color. Males can get as large as 3 feet including the tail; the females are slightly smaller. This mammal is active both day and night, on the ground or in the trees. He prefers a dense forest with an overhead canopy, as he is an agile and speedy tree climber. Fishers have five toes on each foot and semi-retractable claws, which contribute to their ability to climb trees. This predator will often investigate large trees that might harbor prey, that den or nest in trees. Although primarily nocturnal, it is active day and night throughout the year and solitary, except for a brief period during the breeding season. Only the female cares for the young. It nests in a hollow tree during warm months and usually in a ground burrow or snow den in the winter. Fishers hunt by zigzagging through areas of forest vegetation. They do not stalk or chase prey but rely on surprising their quarry. Its name is inappropriate since, unlike the closely related river otter, fishers seldom eat fish. His preferred diet consists of small mammals, birds, carrion, and fruit. They are also adept at killing and eating porcupines without being injured by the quills. This middle-sized predator has the ability to stretch itself out to follow prey into holes in the ground or hollow trees. It is a solitary hunter. Because fishers seldom travel in open areas and tend to be nocturnal, humans rarely see them. They usually traverse areas with little ground cover in a relatively straight line, hardly changing direction. They are sometimes mistaken for a black cat from a distance. Go To Page: 1 2
The copyright of the article Fisher in Mustelidae is owned by Josie Shadwell. Permission to republish Fisher in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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