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Fisher

Pekania pennanti

Mammal · family Mustelidae · order Carnivora

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Endangered (some populations)[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
23 states[3]
Typical length
41 in[4]

The fisher (Pekania pennanti) is a meat-eating mammal in the weasel family, Mustelidae[5]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide, but one group in California is listed as Endangered under the US Endangered Species Act[2][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the fisher a global rank of G5[2] and a national rank of N5 in the United States[2][6]. Both mean Secure[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category NatureServe records is Least concern[7]. The Endangered status is for one group only, the Southern Sierra Nevada Distinct Population Segment in California, listed on June 15, 2020[1]. NatureServe estimates the global adult population at 10,000 to more than 1,000,000 individuals[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Endangered, listed June 15, 2020 (Southern Sierra Nevada Distinct Population Segment)
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[8] 10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Where Fisher lives

NatureServe lists the fisher as native in 23 US states and territories[3]. They run from California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana to Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Maine, Virginia and Tennessee[3]. NatureServe ranks it as extirpated or possibly extirpated, meaning gone or likely gone, in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and North Carolina[9]. NatureServe state ranks differ a lot from state to state[10].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank S5MEWisconsin: native, state rank S4WIVermont: native, state rank S5VTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S5NHWashington: native, state rank S1WAIdaho: native, state rank S3IDMontana: native, state rank S3MTNorth Dakota: native, state rank S4NDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRMNIllinois: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXILMichigan: native, state rank S4MINew York: native, state rank S4NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S4MAOregon: native, state rank S1ORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXIAIndiana: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXINOhio: native, state rank S1OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S5PANew Jersey: native, state rank SUNJConnecticut: native, state rank S2CTRhode Island: native, state rank S1RICalifornia: native, state rank S2CAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: native, state rank S3WVVirginia: native, state rank S1VAMaryland: native, state rank S3MDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: native, state rank SUTNNorth Carolina: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[10].
Show state ranks (27 states)
StateRankMeaning
CaliforniaS2Imperiled
ConnecticutS2Imperiled
IdahoS3Vulnerable
IllinoisSXPresumed Extirpated
IndianaSXPresumed Extirpated
IowaSXPresumed Extirpated
MaineS5Secure
MarylandS3Vulnerable
MassachusettsS4Apparently Secure
MichiganS4Apparently Secure
MinnesotaSNRNot Ranked
MontanaS3Vulnerable
New HampshireS5Secure
New JerseySUUnrankable
New YorkS4Apparently Secure
North CarolinaSXPresumed Extirpated
North DakotaS4Apparently Secure
OhioS1Critically Imperiled
OregonS1Critically Imperiled
PennsylvaniaS5Secure
Rhode IslandS1Critically Imperiled
TennesseeSUUnrankable
VermontS5Secure
VirginiaS1Critically Imperiled
WashingtonS1Critically Imperiled
West VirginiaS3Vulnerable
WisconsinS4Apparently Secure

Habitat

NatureServe records the fisher in hardwood, conifer and mixed woods, in woodland, and in riparian areas, which are the green strips beside water[11]. It lives on both higher and lower ground, mostly in dense conifer or mixed stands[12]. In summer it often uses hardwood stands, and in winter it prefers conifer or mixed stands[12]. It tends to avoid places with little tree cover or heavy human disturbance, and it prefers large unbroken stretches of woods[12].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[11]

Size and diet

The fisher is a carnivore[13]. NatureServe notes that its diet is mostly mammals such as small rodents, shrews, squirrels, hares and porcupines[14]. It also eats birds, other small animals, carrion and fruit[14]. The typical length recorded is 103 cm (41 in)[4]. The typical adult weight recorded is 18 lb[15].

Trait Value
Typical length[4] 103 cm (41 in)
Typical adult weight[15] 8.2 kg (18 lb)
Food habits[13] Carnivore
Migration[16] non-migrant

When to look for it

NatureServe records the fisher as active both day and night[17]. It is a non-migrant, though populations can differ[16]. On GBIF, most US observation records fall in January, November and December[18]. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[18].

January: 486 recordsJanFebruary: 457 recordsFebMarch: 384 recordsMarApril: 238 recordsAprMay: 178 recordsMayJune: 151 recordsJunJuly: 140 recordsJulAugust: 124 recordsAugSeptember: 165 recordsSepOctober: 210 recordsOctNovember: 465 recordsNovDecember: 2,320 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[18].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January486
February457
March384
April238
May178
June151
July140
August124
September165
October210
November465
December2,320

Where to see it

This species is protected or at risk, so we show its range only at the state level. We do not publish parks, nesting, spawning or wintering sites.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Michigan, New York, California, Massachusetts, Vermont[19]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the fisher endangered?
Only one group is. The Southern Sierra Nevada Distinct Population Segment in California is listed as Endangered under the ESA[1]. NatureServe ranks the species as a whole G5 (Secure)[2].
Where does the fisher live in the US?
NatureServe lists it as native in 23 US states and territories, including California, Maine, Michigan and New York[3]. It is ranked as extirpated or possibly extirpated in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and North Carolina[9].
What does a fisher eat?
It is a carnivore[13]. NatureServe notes small rodents, shrews, squirrels, hares and porcupines, plus birds, carrion and fruit[13][14].
How big is a fisher?
The typical length recorded is 103 cm (41 in)[4]. The typical adult weight recorded is 18 lb[15].
When is a fisher most often reported?
Most US GBIF records fall in January, November and December[18]. This shows when people report it, not how many animals there are[18].

Facts and sources

  1. Under the US Endangered Species Act, Fisher has the status Endangered, listed June 15, 2020 (USFWS ECOS). Listed entity: Southern Sierra Nevada Distinct Population Segment. States in the listed range: California. USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Fisher: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Fisher as native in 23 US states and territories: California, Connecticut, Idaho, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 103 cm (41 in). NatureServe Explorer
  5. Fisher (Pekania pennanti) is a mammal in the family Mustelidae, order Carnivora. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe ranks Fisher as extirpated or possibly extirpated (SX or SH) in: Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe state ranks for Fisher (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  11. Habitat types NatureServe records for Fisher: Forest - hardwood, Forest - conifer, Forest - mixed, Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - conifer, Woodland - mixed, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on habitat for Fisher. NatureServe Explorer
  13. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore. NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe notes on food for Fisher. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 8.2 kg (18 lb). NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe migration category for Fisher: non-migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  17. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Circadian, Diurnal, Nocturnal. NatureServe Explorer
  18. GBIF observation records of Fisher in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  19. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Fisher: Michigan, New York, California, Massachusetts, Vermont. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.