The fleet marten can overtake a red squirrel in his leafy backyard, but a fisher, though bigger and heavier, can make the marten run for his life. He moves like a dark streak through treetops, and he’s fast enough on the ground to dine on a hare occasionally. His legs are short, but he can cover 16 feet or more at one bound.

        Powerful and courageous, this north woods predator can lick a coyote or bobcat in a fair fight, or kill a fox or deer for food. Man is his only formidable enemy, but the fisher often outwits him. Trappers complain that fishers follow their their lines at night and make off with a bait or catch.

        The fisher appears to be the only animal that habitually dines on porcupine. Dodging the spiky armor, he flips porky over and bits into the unprotected throat or belly. The few barbed quills he may acquire in the scuffle generally work free in time. Wisconsin wildlife officials imported 13 fishers from New York in 1957, hoping they will re-establish themselves after a 40-year absence and help reduce Wisconsin’s porcupines.

        Small game is the fisher’s usual fare. Despite his name he rarley eats fish, except from traps. He is also known as black fox, black cat, pekan, Pennant’s cat, and the fisher marten. Chippewa Indiands call him tha-cho, which also means large marten. Like most of the weasel tribe, fishers are prized for their fur. Pelts of prime females bring the best prices-as much as $125 apiece.

        In April three or four babies are born in a nest, often high in a hollow tree. Mother comes and goes like a squirrel, scuttling down the trunk head first. When the young are just a few days old she seeks a mate for next year’s litter.

        By winter the young are able to take care of themselves, and the family usually breaks up. Each animal establishes a hunting beat for himself, sometimes 10 or 20 miles in diameter. It takes the fisher a week or more to make a circuit.

        Length 30-40 in. Weight 8-12 lbs. Range: N. New England, Adirondacks, Canada; Alaska panhandle to Yosemite. Characteristics: dark color, expert tree climber, looks like short-legged fox.

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