Minnesota Zoo's three fisher kits make their debut

The weasel-like species almost disappeared because of trapping and logging.

Star Tribune

Last update: July 24, 2008 - 11:38 PM

Three fisher kits born at the Minnesota Zoo are now on exhibit. The species, which resembles weasels and is found in Alaska, Canada and the northern lower 48 states, was almost extinct for a time.

The zoo in Apple Valley is one of four nationally accredited zoos to exhibit fishers and the only one to produce offspring in the past three years.

Born March 23, the three kits -- two males and one female -- are doing well and have started exploring their exhibit. Since their birth, they had been kept in an off-exhibit holding area with their mother as a health precaution.

Fishers are known for their tree-climbing, hunting and agility. Solitary creatures, they are constantly on the move.

Fishers almost disappeared because of trapping and logging practices, but now they are doing well in mixed wooded and heavily forested areas.

They are dark brown in color, good swimmers and like to travel close to the water. Fishers primarily eat small mammals and are one of the few animals that eat porcupine.

A litter of kits, usually one to five in number, is usually born in March or April after a gestation period of 352 days.

PAUL WALSH