Fishers have short, stubby legs; a wedge-shaped head; and dark brown luxuriant fur grading to brownish underbelly. They have several white patches around neck and throat. Though they look similar, males are much larger than females. They have well develop anal scent glands.
Life Cycle/ Social Structure: being most active at dawn and dusk. They are active year-round. Fishers are solitary, associating with other fishers only for mating purposes. Males become more active during mating season. Females are least active during pregnancy and gradually increase activity after birth of their kits.
A fisher’s are always on the move, a male fishers territory can be up to 150 square miles. Male and female fishers have overlapping territories. This behavior is imposed on females by males due to dominance in size and a male desire to increase mating success.
Once extirpated in Pennsylvania through trapping, fishers have been reintroduced and are doing well in the state.
