Mike the Fisher |
Share Mike the Fisher's Story
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Born: |
Spring 2007 |
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Male |
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Mike Fisher (any Ottawa Senators fans will appreciate his name) came to us from the Ottawa area. He was found as an infant in the forest by hikers and was taken to a wildlife rehabilitation centre to be raised. Unfortunately he was very young and had to be raised alone (fishers are not commonly brought to rehab centres as babies) and became overly accustomed to humans as a result. It was determined that he could not be released because he lacked any fear of humans and identified people as a source for food. He has been with us for some time now and is adjusting to his new life here quite well. We are sad that he can not return to the wild but happy that he can at least help us teach the public more about his vilified kind. |
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Fisher (Martes pennanti) |
| Average Size: |
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Average Weight: |
| Body Length:520-675mm (1.7-2.25ft), Tail Length:280-400mm (11.2in.-1.3ft). |
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2-5.5 kilograms (4.4-12 lbs). |
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| Average Lifespan: |
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Range: |
| 7 years in the wild, over 10 years in captivity. |
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Found throughout Ontario except for far north and south. |
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Dining and Dwelling |
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Life and Death |
| Fishers avoid open areas and they prefer the canopy of a continuous forest, in the vicinity of watercourses. This diurnal (active in daytime) weasel is a voracious hunter which will kill and eat anything it can overpower. It's diet mostly consists of snowshoe hare and small mammals, however the fisher may also eat birds, snakes, fish, insects, carrion, fruits, berries and seeds. It is best known for it's ability kill and eat porcupine. |
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Man is the major predator of the fisher, possibly the wolf, but a fisher would probably be too agile. Fishers are sexually dimorphic, males being twice the size of females. Males can breed at the age of 2, while females are able to breed at one year of age. Mating, of these normally solitary animals, takes place in early spring and after 338-358 days the kits(usually three) are born. The young stay with their mother 3 or 4 months and then disperse. |
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That's Amazing |
- There has been a documented case of a fisher killing a whitetail deer.
- Fishers do not fish. Some believe their name may have come from the fact that they resemble the otter or possibly came from the fishers ability to 'fish' bait out of fur-trappers traps.
- The male fisher can reach the size of a female wolverine (one of the closest relatives of the fisher).
- Mike is a very large fisher, normally males would reach a weight of no more than 5.4 kg (12 lbs), Mike is over 6.8 kg (15 lbs).
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