A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

Pics
Date sort Score sort
Small victories... Well we picked a couple a couple radishes. My son sauted them. I split them with my granddaughter... She ate most of them. Then there was the tomato slice. See below how she reacted...:wee:clap

IMG_0848.jpeg
 
memphis said:
Wow. Thats interesting fisher info. Boy I hope they stay north.
Click to expand...

Ohhhh Memphis and rjohns - :lau
"
Range
The fisher is found only in North America. Historically, it ranged the northern forests of Canada and the United States as well as forests in the Appalachian, Rocky and Pacific Coast Mountains. Today, fishers are found only in parts of their historic range. In the United States, they exist in portions of the Appalachian Mountains from New England south to Tennessee; northern Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan’s upper peninsula; northern Idaho and western Montana; and three small West Coast populations in southwestern Oregon, northwestern California, and the southern Sierra Nevada. Reintroductions have led to their reoccupation of former habitats in Idaho, Michigan, Montana, Nova Scotia, Vermont, West Virginia, Maine, Manitoba, Minnesota, New York, Ontario and Tennessee."

http://www.defenders.org/fisher/basic-facts-about-fishers
 
Flashpoint said:
I spoke with the local farm agency, the forestry department, another agricultural dept, and the wildlife folks this morning. (these are the numbers I was given as I was shuffled to the next agency) This is what I was told or what is in their research documents.

Farm agency had no idea about the blackhead disease, but gave me the number to someone else - who is currently out of town. So waiting on a callback.

The wildlife agency said that blackhead had only been found twice (2 wild turkeys) a couple years ago, but had no reports of incidences regarding any domestic poultry issues and was not considered to be a health issue for turkeys in this area.

She also told me about the reintroduction projects and the info is readily available online. The Fisher or Fisher Cat were reintroduced in WV next to the Maryland border starting in 1969 with 23 fishers from New Hampshire. Pennsylvania reintroduced Fishers starting with 30 animals in 1979 and then followed up in 1994-1998 with another 190 animals.

Today in Western MD, Fishers are present in enough numbers that hunters are now allowed to "bag" two, either by firearm and bow hunting or traps and must have a Furbearer permit. Fisher numbers are increasing rapidly and have spread from Garrett Co to Frederick Co, MD, not counting the increasing numbers in WV and PA. One article from the Maryland DNR said the average numbers have been approx. 280 otters and 52 Fishers taken "legally" each year for the past five years. They assume the numbers are higher if taking into account the number of Fishers taken illegally by hunters or farmers. (duh!)

The Fisher's diet consists of berries and fruits from shrubs and trees and considered to be an important mammalian seed spreader. They also eat insects, lizards, snakes, birds, shrews, moles, mice, squirrels, porcupines and other small mammals and there is evidence of predation on white-tailed deer. (!!!) They competently forage for food in both the tree canopy and on the forest floor. They have 1-6 kits once a year, breeding in March/April but the embryos do not attach until the following Jan/Feb with gestation lasting 40 days. Their dens are usually found in tree cavities 30-40 feet high (I though this was interesting).

She also stated that regular chicken wire or netting would not be a deterrent if the Fisher was after chickens or other fowl. They are extremely strong and have razor sharp claws. Some reports say females only weigh 4-9 lbs with the male being much larger at 15 pounds. According to some educational videos and articles, the males often reach 20-30 lbs. Females are typically 30-37 inches long with the males reaching a length of 48 inches long.

She did say that she did not think fishers would actively target a chicken coop (and apparently she has not watched the videos!) and that I stood a bigger chance of running into a bear (been there, done that, have the video).

Personally, I know these folks are trained to not speak about anything alarming - like the fishers being big hunters for birds or any easy meal. Just like DNR claims Eastern Cougars are extinct - BUT it's illegal to shoot one........righttt.
#flashpointobsessedwithfishers :lau
Click to expand...


You are so much nicer than me.....all I would have said over and over is "you lie".....

I have lived in fisher country for 25 years or so. They love anything a farmer can supply them, like chicken, ducks, geese, rabbits and so on...At least she was honest about the chicken netting. You might as will have wax paper in place..
 

Similar threads

DuckDuckSook
New Broad Breasted Turkey Hen - Tips?
2
Replies
10
Views
350
Molpet
Molpet
EggzactlyRight
Many Questions About Keeping Turkey - New to Turkeys, Need Help (8 questions)
2
Replies
10
Views
422
EggzactlyRight
EggzactlyRight
B
Turkey behavior questions!
Replies
4
Views
187
R2elk
R2elk
H
Male Turkey with Female Chickens?
Replies
5
Views
1K
casportpony
casportpony
C
Sick turkey? Blackhead?
Replies
5
Views
1K
KF0002
KF0002

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom