Fisher
Pekania pennanti
3
Nom français: Pékan
3
- Small (size comparable to a cat) carnivorous mammal, it is a member of the mustelid family (weasel family).
- They are one of the few (sometimes the only?) animals successfully preying on porcupines. Some tales say they are not affected by the porcupines quills... in reality they can get stuck by the quills just like other animals. They use their speed and long muzzle to attack the porcupine's face. As the porcupine tries to turn its back and tail to the attacker, the fisher moves swiftly to stay in front of it to avoid the quills and to keep attacking its face. Once the porcupine is killed, the fisher flips it and start eating it from its belly. They also readily eat hare, rabbits, mice, voles, squirrels and birds. They can also feed on carrion.
- The name pekan is derived from its name in the Abenaki language borrowed by fur traders.
- Their tracks have 5 clawed toes with a C-shaped metacarpal pad. The lope is the commonest gait. Usually in snow of at least a few inches, fishers use the 2×2 lope, superimposing hind over front tracks to save energy. They vary their track pattern and also use the rotary and transverse lope as well as alternating walk.
Fontes e Créditos
- (c) Linda, Fortuna future, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-NC), https://www.flickr.com/photos/briarcraft/47929559112/
- (c) California Department of Fish and Wildlife, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/californiadfg/20883977639/
- (c) Alice Roy-Bolduc, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-SA)
