Study Area

“In 1995, the East Kootenay Reintroduction Program was initiated to enhance fisher populations in south-eastern British Columbia. The transplant area exists south of Cranbrook within the McGillivray Mountain Range and west of Kimberley in the St. Mary’s and Perry Cr. Drainages.” (p. 1)

Project Objectives

“1. To reintroduce fisher into vacant but suitable habitat;
2. To expand the existing range of fisher in B.C. to support long term population viability;
3. To connect northern US isolated populations with healthy, and increasing populations in central B.C.;
4. To provide legal trapping of fisher when the Regional population is sustainable and expanding into adjoining jurisdictions.” (p. 1)

Home Range Sizes

“Growing season (May - October) home range size of 1 adult male is 12470 ha (n=15), while growing season home ranges of 2 adult females (without kits) is 3399 ha (n=19) and 1403 (n=18), respectively. This data corresponds well with home range data documented in Weir (1995).” (p. 3-4)

Habitat Use

“Fisher were located within a variety of habitats ranging from clear-cuts to mature forest habitats. Fisher were located most often (51%) within forested habitats with greater than 40% canopy closure. Open dry forests were used 21% of the time, while riparian habitats were utilized 12% of the time. Open subalpine forests and open forested burns were used 2% and 1% of the time, respectively. Shrub habitats, such as wetlands, and avalanche chutes, were used marginally at 1%. All other open habitats (i.e. open burns, clear-cuts) were utilized 2x more this year than last year during the same period. Clear-cuts were utilized 7%, and open burns 5% of the time.” (p. 4)