Conserving and restoring at risk species and ecosystems on the BC South Coast
Fisher
Martes pennanti
This member of the family Mustelidae (including ermine, weasels and martens), is considered to form a single undifferentiated species throughout its range. Evidence suggests that the ancestors of Fisher migrated to North America 2.5 - 5 million years ago. American Marten is the only other representative of the genus Martes in North American.
COSEWIC: Not listed, BC List: Blue / Identified Wildlife
Length: 84 cm – 1.2m, Weight: Males 2.7-5.4 kg, Females 1.4-3.2 kg. Like other Mustelids (weasels, otters, mink etc.), Fisher have a long slender body and a luxuriant pelage (fur). The coat is dense, dark brown to black with white tipped areas around the shoulders and back giving it a “grizzled” appearance. The tail is long and bushy, the face pointed, ears rounded, legs strong and short with heavy claws for climbing and digging. Front and rear feet have five digits, with a C-shaped palm pad curving away from the toes. The track pattern is similar to Mink and Marten but larger. Prints are wider than long, 5 cm wide on dirt, to more than 6.7 cm on snow, claws visible. As with other members of the weasel family Fisher have a gait that results in the hind foot overlapping with the front, resulting in twin paw prints one slightly ahead of the other. An agile climber, tracks may end abruptly at the base of a tree.
RESOURCES
For further information see:
A sources for authoritative conservation information on thousands of plants and animals and hundreds of ecological communities in BC.
A joint venture resource providing comprehensive information on a range of species and ecological communities specific to the Coast Region of BC (including the South, Central and North Coast, Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii).
A volunteer-driven GIS-based biogeoclimatic atlas of the wildlife of BC.
Source for status, taxonomy, distribution and life history information for plants, animals and ecological communities in the US and Canada.
An initiative of the Province of BC to provide more explicit guidance and conservation on specific species and ecological communities of conservation concern that are impacted by forestry activities.
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