Syracuse.com - DEC looking to get a handle on number of fishers out there

[HuntingNY-News]

The state Department of Environmental Conservation is teaming up with Cornell University in a large-scale study across areas of Central and Western New York to find out more about this large, dark-haired member of the weasel family.

A fisher is attracted to the DEC's setup (featuring a beaver carcass) in Chenango County. DEC photo

Just how many fishers are out there?

The state Department of Environmental Conservation is teaming up with Cornell University in a large-scale study across areas of Central and Western New York to find out more about this large, dark-haired member of the weasel family.

The past month, DEC staffers from the Region 7’s office, based in Cortland, put out 19 trail cameras at different locations in parts of Broome, Chenango, Tioga and Tompkins counties. The three-person, team is led by Lance Clark, the region’s senior wildlife biologist. He said they try to check the cameras three times a week.

“We’re going to be doing this for about two more months,” Clark said, the cameras are being moved around every several weeks. He explaining the animals are drawn in front of the cameras by attaching a flat piece of wood to a tree with a chunk of beaver carcass on it.

The meat is surrounded by wire brushes that capture some of the animal’s hair, which can later be used for DNA analysis to help determine just how many fishers visited the location. All the information will help the DEC draw up a new statewide management plan for the animal.

Another fisher is photographed in Chenango County. DEC photo

In addition to the fishers, the setup has drawn a number of animals in front of the cameras, including raccoons, possums and coyotes, Clark said.

Fishers are built low to the ground, with short legs, short ears and furry tail. They vary in color from dark brown to nearly black. The males weigh on the average between 7 and 13 pounds, and the females between 3 and 7 pounds. The males can get as long as 47 inches; the females, 37 inches.

One fisher caught on camera in Broome County, appeared to weigh in the 20- pound range, which is big for a fisher. Clark jokingly tagged it “Arnold Schwarzenegger.”

Fishers are described as being a “dietary generalist,” eating a wide variety of small- to medium-sized mammals and birds, and a variety of hard and soft mast such as beechnuts, acorns, apples and berries.

Another fisher, tagged jokingly by DEC staff as "Arnold Schwarzenegger" because of its large size, feasts on the beaver carcass at this setup in Broome County. DEC photo

“However, they have been considered a specialist in that they are the only known North American mammal that succeeds in killing and consuming porcupines,” according to the DEC website. “They will consume the entire animal, leaving nothing but a quilled hide and a few of the larger bones.”

In recent years, anecdotal evidence, bowhunter and hunters logs, points to these animals having a growing presence in Central New York.

Their pelts are prized by trappers, drawing prices at raw local fur auctions of $60 to $70 or more, according to Al LaFrance, president of the Independent Fur Harvesters Association.

Currently, trappers cannot trap fishers in any DEC wildlife management units in Region 7. Data from this study will help in the development of a comprehensive fisher management plan by the DEC – possibly changing that situation some day.

In addition to this survey, DEC is interested in receiving fisher observations from others. Seen a fisher lately? Report your fisher sightings to fwwildlife@g w.dec.state.ny.us, and include the following information: date of observation, town, county, nearest intersection or address of observation, description of animal, photos (if any), and your name and contact information.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog