Fisher stolen!

[The Spruce]

I am relatively new as far as carinvore trapping goes, and still just a resident trapper (can't find a line of my own that is not 500 miles away). Like most people, I cut my teeth trapping the water and targeting Beavers and Muskrat. The last couple years I have expanded into trapping K9's, Weasels, Mink, and Marten when possible. As I am sure everyone else has noticed, there are alot of Fishers right now. I had one accidental catch already in a mink set, and had my second in a weasel set this week. Unfortunately the Fisher was stolen by a wolverine...did a hell of a job on the box, looked like it went through a mulcher. I have 2 questions for the experts. 1-will there ever be a program that will allow Resident trappers to target Fishers? In my area I would have no problem putting up 50+, as there are Fishers in every private quarter section of bush right now. Secondly, I would like confirmation that it was indeed a wolverine that stole my Fisher. I have attached a picture of the tracks, I noted that you could see where hair (likely from a tail) was touching the snow on and off. The tracks were about the size of my fist (I don't have little girl hands). I plan on setting my bear bait that is in that area this week, just to see if I cannot get some pictures of the wolverine.

[steve]

Maybe it was the fisher getting away?

[The Spruce]

If it was the Fisher, it forgot It's head and some of It's fur LOL.
110 magnum hit right behind ears, the Fisher was quite dead.

[steve]

lol ok. Hard to say what those tracks are, would be a big fisher.

[357xp]

if it was a weasel set, u should be able to make a box where the larger animals wouldnt get into..............

[pickrel pat]

Originally Posted by steve

Maybe it was the fisher getting away?

Not with fist sized feet...

[steve]

Here's fist sized holes of a fisher on my line. Soft sugary snow.

[Mike_W]

Cougar?

[Dark Wing]

I vaguely remember some one telling me one way of confirming a wolverine track was counting 5 toe marks in the track. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[The Spruce]

Originally Posted by 357xp

if it was a weasel set, u should be able to make a box where the larger animals wouldnt get into..............

Very true, I will have to add a small pc on the top to keep out the Fishers...works good for Weasels and the odd Mink. No Mink where this set was though.

[steve]

Originally Posted by Dark Wing

I vaguely remember some one telling me one way of confirming a wolverine track was counting 5 toe marks in the track. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Yes, wont show a 5th toe in every track though.

[Mike_W]

Originally Posted by Dark Wing

I vaguely remember some one telling me one way of confirming a wolverine track was counting 5 toe marks in the track. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Wolverine's are low to the ground no belly marks in the snow in the first pic.

[Battle Rat]

Originally Posted by Mike_W

Wolverine's are low to the ground no belly marks in the snow in the first pic.

I see nail marks in the track. Not a cougar.

[braggadoe]

i'm thinking fisher track aswell.

these are wolverine tracks.....different snow conditions. i never knew about the 5 toe marks. some you can see it, some you can't, as steve said.

[IMG][/IMG]


these are fisher tracks.....

[IMG][/IMG]

similar to the pics steve posted, and to the night(mystery)pic

[The Spruce]

Thanks guys, from the pictures of the Wolverine tracks shown...it was another Fisher that stole my Fisher. Likely a big old Male. They were definately different than the Wolverine tracks shown, and followed the 2 by 2 pattern. Now I know. Thanks again.