In a society where much of nature is given only a passing glance, seeing more secretive wildlife is not only uplifting to the soul, but is also a much needed reminder of the incredible diversity of life on our planet. The fisher is a reclusive member of the weasel family. Native to NY State, this beautiful mammal has seen a steady increase in population in recent years, and it may be one of the most efficient predators in the forest.
"Ten years ago it was very uncommon to see a Fisher," says Will Miller, Director of the Seneca Nation Department Of Fish & Wildlife. "A lot of people today still don't know what a Fisher looks like, they've never encountered one, they've never seen one. Myself, just these past couple years I've been seeing them more frequently with archery hunting and turkey hunting."
"They're very well adapted. I would say like most predators, they're opportunists, and they take advantage of their opportunities to the fullest extent. They're one of the few predators that can prey on a porcupine," said Larry Becelia, Seneca Nation Fish and Wildlife Conservation Manager.
A young female fisher was found with an injured leg a few weeks ago near Salamanca.
"We had a call from a local community member who had this fisher that was injured. We sent an officer out, Officer Carl Kettle went out, got the fisher, brought it back to our office where we housed it and worked with our local vet," Miller explains.
"We were able to release the fisher from the trap," said Becelia. "We radio collared it , and while we radio collared it, we treated it with antibiotics, and we fed it and nursed it back to health for about two weeks before we released it."
The things learned so far and things yet to be learned from this small predator will expand the limited information on the species and help to form a management plan for the fisher. It's also a lesson to remind people that all animals occupy an important place in the environment. Hopefully, it will also inspire future generations to be better caretakers of Earth.