84 ANIMAL LIFE IN THE YO SEMITE 



National Park during the winter months, we have only a single observation 

 to record. The species seems to be even more retiring in its habits than is 

 the Pine Marten. 



The Pacific Fisher is a considerably larger animal than the Pine Marten, 

 the weights of the two being in a ratio of about 31^ to 1. Both exhibit the 

 comparatively slender form of body which characterizes so many members 

 of the Mustelidae, the chief family of the fur-bearers. The fisher is some- 

 what longer legged and its tail is decidedly longer proportionately than 

 the marten's. In coloration the fisher is more varied tlian the majority 

 of its relatives, and its fur is long as well as dense. Naturally, therefore, 

 it is a species especially sought for the fur trade. 



All of the w'inter records of the fisher in the Yosemite region are from 

 a narrow belt of country in the western part of the Park because it is only 

 or chiefly in that area that trappers have plied their trade. To judge from 

 the habits of the fisher in other parts of its w'ide range, some individuals 

 of the species probably remain during the winter months in the Canadian 

 and even in the Hudsonian Zone of the Yosemite section. So far as we 

 know no trapping or observation has been carried on in the heart of the 

 high Sierras during the winter months ; consequently, there is an almost 

 total lack of information concerning the distribution and habits of the 

 mammals which winter there. The one definite record for the fisher on the 

 floor of the Yosemite Valley was made in the middle of winter, February 14, 

 1920, w'hen an individual was obtained near the Pohono Bridge. The 

 species does not stray onto the Valley floor very frequently, else, with the 

 numerous campaigns of trapping (for coyotes) carried on there during the 

 winters of different years, it would have been captured more often. 



The fisher, to judge from its structure, especially from the sharp and 

 curved claws, is an animal well fitted to climb trees. Its feet, at least 

 during the winter months, are well furred between the toe and foot pads. 

 This fact suggests that it also travels about to a considerable extent on 

 the snow. The habits of the fisher in the woods of Canada show it to be 

 a truly carnivorous species, for it there destroys many of the fur animals 

 caught in traps. 



While four members of our party were ascending Mount Lyell on the 

 morning of July 18, 1915, a good view was obtained of a Pacific Fisher. 

 As we crossed a little de])ression at about 11,000 feet altitude, we seared 

 the animal up Jiiul it bounded lightly ixwny over the rocks and snow with 

 the agility of a cat. The snow was 'pocketed' at this setuson and the animal 

 had to leap deftly from one narrow ridge to another as it made off across 

 the snow field. As it ran we noted the slender legs, slim body, and long 

 tail, the light patch on the forehead and another on the back. The animal 

 resembled a marten somewhat, \n\\ was larger. It made leaps of about 2 



