Fisher

Martes pennanti

Habitat 3

Riparian forests with dense canopy closure, large trees and struc- tural complexity. Large-diameter trees with large cavities (such as old Balsam Poplar) are used for natal den sites.

Distribution 3

Yukon: Primarily in southeastern Yukon, north to at least Ross River, but apparently expanding westward, with reliable recent re- ports from the Kusawa and Kluane lake areas.
North America: Range from the Maritime Provinces and New England west across southern boreal Canada to southeastern Yukon, northern BC, southeastern Alaska; and south in the moun- tains to Utah and California. Recently the species has been ex- panding its range in the eastern USA.

Distinguishing Features 3

Fishers are a medium-sized weasels. Colour ranges from deep brown to black but from the face to the shoulders fur can be hoary-gold or silver due to tricolored guard hairs. The underside is almost completely brown except for randomly- placed patches of white or cream. In the summer, the fur may lighten considerably.

Sources and Credits

  1. (c) Arthur Chapman, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/arthur_chapman/6222717167/
  2. (c) Bethany Weeks, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/washuugenius/6632094573/
  3. (c) L.G. Johanson, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

iNaturalist.ca Map

Animal Mammal
Color brown
Mammal Weasels (Mustelidae)