Feature Article January 8, 2003
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Fishers - Fact or Fantasy
After hearing an expert on Fishers talk about the animals and the many misconceptions people have, I have to share my thoughts.
The Fisher is a member of the weasel family, but a misnamed one - it does not fish, but is an animal that lives in upland habitat, and lives by eating vegetation, carrion, and a variety of small animals, including Porcupines.
Similar in looks to its cousin, the Mink, it is larger, but still not a big animal, more the size of a small dog or a good-sized cat.The male is larger than the female, and also ranges more widely than the female.The hairs about its head and along the back are tipped with gray, which give it the grizzled appearance.It usually has a white area on its chest.Very supple and agile, it is equally at home in trees or on the ground.
I have seen Fishers on several occasions - after the ice storm, coming to meat I had put out in case it was spoiled; across the road in front of my car a couple of times; crossing the road in front of me as I was out for a walk.
Now for the fact or fantasy - Are they 'vicious'? - I believe vicious is an adjective better used to describe humans.All carnivorous animals will kill - does that mean they are vicious?In fact, they are killing in order to survive.Very few wild animals attack for any other reason, except in defence when they are cornered, and then again it is for survival.
Will they attack people? - While a Fisher is a curious animal and may come close in order to see what you are, it will not attack unless cornered. The only known time a Fisher has bitten a person was when that person had it cornered in a stall and was hitting at it with a broom. Then it did bite the ankle of that person.
Do they kill cats? - Yes, but consider this - the Fisher is a native animal; the cat is not. The Fisher is trying to survive. Any pet cat that is allowed to wander outside becomes a possible meal, but while wandering outside, that pampered pet is killing small animals that are the Fisher's natural prey.Unfortunately, there are also many cats that have become feral, which are devastating the natural balance of nature - killing small animals and birds.
Do they kill deer or large livestock? No, the largest animal they attack is probably the Porcupine, or a Raccoon holed up in a tree in hibernation.Yes, they eat the carcasses of large animals that have died from other causes, such as road kills or leftovers from hunting.
Have the MNR released them in our area? - No, the MNR have never released them in eastern Canada.
Where did they come from?-They have returned to this region where they are native (where they had probably been wiped out by trapping) from the Adirondacks - this has been indicated by genetic testing.
Are they an important part of our fauna? - I strongly believe that they are.We humans have changed the landscape and our environment; destroyed habitat for birds and plants, displaced many animals, and think it is progress.
Bravo for the Fisher, which is surviving in spite of us!
Observations: From Oconto, Helm reports a flock of 25 Common Redpolls on Jan. 1. Share your observations, contact Jean at 268-2518;This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
