DEC staff, in partnership with researchers from SUNY ESF, are conducting a study to better understand what drives changes in fisher populations in the Central Adirondacks specifically, and more widely across the Northern Zone.
With the help of a number of trappers, fishers are live-captured during the winter and adult females fitted with GPS collars to locate and monitor dens and kit production. The combination of real-time GPS location data, as well as trail cameras deployed at maternal den sites, help estimate kit production and survival.
Ultimately, DEC will use data on the reproductive potential of Northern Zone fisher populations and gain a better understanding of population dynamics.
For more information on fishers and their management in New York, visit DEC’s website.
With the lower population of fishers, is the marten population increasing?
What about a marten trap and transfer operation? I know it had been talked about for the Catskills
Before this past spring I had never heard of or seen the now more known to people as the “Fisher Cat” I live in the country in New York in the Broome County area which is I am understood to be not the normal area for Fisher Cats to be known amongst.
Needless to say on my way to my doctor visit, my cab driver (whom is my regular A&D medical transport driver) Roy and myself had seen what we thought at first was an overgrown housecat but with Roy’s knowledge of wildlife in N.Y. he had stated it was a Fisher Cat since then I have seen what could possibly be the same one several times now. (It’s location not being more than a mile from my residence) I have 4 cats as well as 4 small dogs and thanks to the Lord I have not (knock on wood) not have I heard of others having any type of issues with them yet to date. Roy himself have seen a few others at a couple other different locations. Basically what I’m trying to find out is #1) are they near distinction? #2) if students from a SUNY location (being also I am maybe 5-8 minutes drive max from SUNY Broome would be interested in advancing any study with them as long as there is no hurt to come with them I am willing to disclose the locations to where I have seen them as well as I’m sure Roy will as well. They are very strange and unique animals and we are more than willing to try to do our part on saving wildlife. In that note please feel free to contact me at my email address my name is Christina. Thank you for any help that you can contribute and ir help us contribute to this beautiful wildlife given to us.
Hello…you most certainly spotted a fisher around where you live in the Southern Tier. Fisher populations have been expanding into central New York which includes your area and remarkably into western New York. Much of upstate has forests which offer the territory these animals prefer as well as an abundance of naturally found foods. Fishers are much like bears diet wise, they will eat just about anything, though squirrels I am told are a favorite and easy to catch, a weakened deer is even on their menu. I think Fishers are expanding in territory and population but are generally nocturnal and often secretive enough that casual observers hardly ever notice them. Your seeing one is a treat, good for you…regards, Doug
There is a population of fisher cats in our area in middle tennessee
We have seen bobcats near our house ! We have Mac property around us, so they are pretty much protected, they have plenty of rabbit, water and other animals and rodents to live on, also turkeys, quail etc. we have also seen fisher cats run thru our property! Two bears this past summer and moose!