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Local Species Information - Fisher (Pekania pennanti)
General Information
NEWS Event Fisher West Coast Distinct Population Segment Status Evaluation Link to the proposed rule to list the West Coast DPS of fisher as a threatened species. Fisher Items of Interest Fisher Natural History
Background A resident of coniferous and mixed coniferous forests, the fisher once occurred throughout much of Canada, the northern United States, and the western United States. Fisher populations declined historically primarily due to loss of habitat from timber harvesting and trapping. Populations of fishers have declined in all Canadian provinces and states except the Yukon and in the extreme northeastern United States (Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont). In the western United States and Canadian Provinces, the number of fishers has been greatly reduced and their populations fragmented.
Identifying Characteristics
Markings: The fisher is light brown to dark blackish-brown, with the face, neck, and shoulders sometimes being slightly gray. The chest and underside often has irregular white patches. The fisher has a long body with short legs and a long bushy tail. At 6.6 to 13.2 pounds, male fishers weigh about twice as much as females (3.3 to 5.5 pounds). Males range in length from 35 to 47 inches while females range from 29 to 37 inches in length. Fishers from the Pacific States may weigh less than fishers in the eastern United States. Look-a-like Mammals American Marten American martens (Martes americana) have similar body shapes to fisher, but are smaller and usually lighter in color than fishers. The fur on the throat of martens is a buff or orange color; legs and tails are typically darker than the rest of the body. Female martens range from 18 to 22 inches in length and weigh 1.5 to 1.8 pounds. Male martens range from 20 to 25 inches in length and weigh 1.6 to 2.8 pounds.
American Mink The American mink (Mustela vison) also has a similar body shape to fisher, but are smaller and usually darker in color than fishers. Their fur is deep, rich brown, with or without white spots on the stomach. American mink have webbing at the base of their toes, and their ears barely stick out above their fur. Females range from 18 to 22 inches in length and weigh 1.2 to 1.7 pounds. Males are slightly larger than females, ranging from 19 to 28 inches in length and 1.9 to 2.8 pounds.
American mink. © 2004 Ron E. VanNimwegen
Geographic Range The West Coast Distinct Population Segment includes the states of Washington, Oregon, and California. Fishers are known to occur in Oregon and California; fishers were re-introduced into the Olympic Peninsula of Washington in January and March of 2008. For more information on the re-introductions, please follow the links listed below in the Reintroductions section.
Map showing the current and historical range of fisher in the western United States. ![]() Habitat Fishers use forest habitats with dense canopy closure, large diameter live trees (conifers and hardwoods) and snags (dead trees) with cavities and other deformities, large diameter down wood, multiple canopy layers. Mature and Late-successional coniferous or mixed forests that contain key habitat and structural components provide the most suitable fisher habitat because they provide abundant potential den sites and preferred prey species. The physical structure of the forest (abundant structures for den and rest sites, complexity and diversity of trees and shrubs) and prey associated with these forest conditions are thought to be the critical features that explain fisher habitat use, rather than specific forest types. Fishers use habitat at multiple scales, for an example click here. The West Coast native population of fishers currently inhabits forested areas from sea level along the California/Oregon Coast to approximately 1,970 to 8,530 ft in the Trinity and Klamath/Siskiyou Mountains in northern California and southern Oregon, and Sierra Nevada in California. Fishers also currently exist in reintroduced populations in the Oregon Cascades and most recently the Olympic peninsula in Washington.
Prey Fishers have a diverse diet that includes birds, squirrels, mice, shrews, voles, reptiles, insects, plants, fruit, and dead animals. Small and mid-sized mammals are the most common prey items eaten by fishers in the Pacific States. Fishers search for prey in forested stands, avoiding openings.
Reproduction Except during the breeding season, fishers are solitary animals. The breeding season for the fisher is generally from late February to the end of April. Female fishers raise 1 to 3 kits, which are weaned by 10 weeks old. When they are 1 year of age, kits have established their own home ranges and are no longer dependent upon adults. ![]() Fisher Reproduction Cycle. Photo Credit: Cathy Raley, USDA Forest Service, PNW Research Station
Current Information For additional detailed information a list of literature from the Draft Fisher Species Report pertaining to fishers, habitat, prey, and potential threats can be found by clicking here.
Release of California Fishers near Chico, California, in January 2012. Fisher Reintroduction in the Northern Sierra Nevada (FRiNS) Project Researchers working on this partnership are making updates available to the public via the following link. http://frinsproject.wordpress.com/ California Department of Fish and Wildlife Fisher Reintroduction Website This website includes an overview of the project as well as links to the Translocation Plan and Annual Reports. https://r1.dfg.ca.gov/portal/FisherTranslocation/tabid/832/Default.aspx The National Park Service, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, US Geologic Survey and Conservation Northwest; Reintroduction Project Returning Fisher to the Olympic Peninsula The fisher reintroduction was conducted through a partnership of agencies and organizations. Many partners and cooperators provided financial or logistical support for management and research. The project has been an adaptive undertaking. More and updated information may be obtained through checking out the links below. http://www.nps.gov/olym/naturescience/fisher-reintroduction.htm http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/fisher/ Fisher Reintroductions in the Planning Phase The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife have recently released their Implementation Plan for Reintroducing Fishers to the Cascade Mountains in Washington. Follow link below for new information in the next phase of Washington’s commitment to fisher recovery in the state. http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/fisher/reintroduction_cascades.html Conservation Planning Fisher Specific Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances The Yreka Fish and Wildlife Office has prepared two Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances (CCAA) with Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI). Sierra Pacific Industries Property-wide CCAA The CCAA includes approximately 1,570,963 acres of private, industrial timberland in California. The CCAA is for a time period of 10 years. Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances for Fishers on the SPI Ownership in the Klamath, Cascade, and Sierra Nevada Mountains CCAA Appendices CCAA Final Environmental Assessment Stirling Management Area CCAAs The CCAA includes approximately 160,000 acres of private, industrial timberland in Butte, Plumas, and Tehama Counties, California. The CCAA is for a time period of 20 years. Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances for the Stirling Management Area (Signed) Final Environmental Action Statement Screening Form for the Candidate Conservations Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) Conference Opinion and Findings and Recommendations on Issuance of an Enhancement of Survival Permit for the Fisher (Martes pennanti) to Sierra Pacific Industries, Inc. For more information on Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances, click here. Habitat Conservation Plans While there are Habitat Conservation Plans that include fishers as a covered species there currently are no Habitat Conservation Plans specifically for fishers. For information on Habitat Conservation Plans that include fishers as a covered species click here For more information on Habitat Conservation Plans in general, click here Safe Harbor Agreement There are no Safe Harbor Agreements for fishers. For more information on Safe Harbor Agreements, click here Federal Regulatory History Petitions, Previous Federal Register Documents, Candidate Notice of Reviews (2009-2013) and the 2012 Species Assessment and Listing Priority Assignment Form Note: Link provided below is to the US Fish and Wildlife Service ECOS database. This link provides information and documents for both the West Coast and Rocky Mountain Distinct Population Segments of fishers. http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=A0HS#petitions Proposed Rule to List the Fisher (Pekania pennanti) as Threatened (western United States Distinct Population Segment), October 7, 2014 Interesting Links to More Information on Fisher Research and Conservation Pacific Southwest Research Station: Kings River Fisher Project Sierra Nevada Adaptive Management Project; Fisher Team Conservation Biology Institute: Fisher Projects General Information on Southern Sierra Fisher Conservation http://www.sierranevada.ca.gov/our-work/snfci-home/fisher-conservation http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r5/plants-animals/wildlife/?cid=STELPRDB5426714 |