Report Nr. 3189 Fisher Survey - 1992

Extensive logging in the 1800's and subsequent fires plus heavy trapping through the 1920's led to the extirpation of the fisher (Martes pennanti) from its former range in the Upper Peninsula (U.P.). Fisher were reintroduced in the 1960's on the U.P.'s Ottawa National Forest. By 1989, they became sufficiently abundant in Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Marquette, and Ontonagon counties to allow a limited harvest. The 1992 season was the fourth consecutive year for legal trapping for this species and resulted in a registered harvest of 140 fisher. In addition, one fisher was killed by a vehicle, 14 were accidentally trapped, and 2 were found dead. Younger age classes were more likely to be trapped with 77 of the 119 (65%) animals aged being 1.5 years old or younger. Nearly equal numbers of males (61) and females (58) were examined, despite the fact that males have a larger home range and are more likely to engage in intraspecies competition.