A large dark mustelid (no, it doesn't fish) famous as the only North American predator that routinely kills porcupines — flipping them to attack the unprotected belly.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The fisher is a carnivorous mammal native to North America, a forest-dwelling creature whose range covers much of the boreal forest in Canada to the northern United States. It is a member of the mustelid family and is the only living member of the genus Pekania. It is sometimes referred to as a fisher cat, although it is not a cat.
Source: Wikipedia — Fisher (animal) Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Long dark brown body with paler face; massive ear tufts; bushy tail. Among the largest US weasels.
Similar species. Marten (smaller, lighter throat). Wolverine (larger, much chunkier).
Voice. Snorts, growls, screams.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Carnivorous: porcupines (one of few predators), snowshoe hares, squirrels, birds, carrion.
Behavior. Solitary, mostly arboreal. Known for tree-to-tree pursuit of prey. Reintroduced to many parts of former range.
§ Range
Canada, northern US Rockies, Great Lakes, New England, scattered reintroductions
§ Habitat
Mature forests with significant down wood, especially conifers
§ Threats
Logging of mature forest, rodenticide poisoning (especially second-generation), trapping pressure.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the fisher is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Support old-growth protection. Avoid rodenticide use in fisher range. Donate to reintroduction programs.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Fisher (animal)
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Pekania pennanti
- IUCN Red List · taxon 41651
- iNaturalist · taxon 42022
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Pekania pennanti
§ Sources cited
- USFWS
- National Park Service
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List 2016
