Fisher Survival in Eastern Ontario |
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| Authors: | ERIN L KOEN JEFF BOWMAN C SCOTT FINDLAY |
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| Institution: | 1. Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie-Curie Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada;2. Wildlife Research and Development Section, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Trent University DNA Building, 2140 East Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON K9J 7B8, Canada |
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| Abstract: | Abstract: Fishers (Martes pennanti) have recolonized eastern Ontario, Canada, but little is known about the survival of this harvested population. We estimated fisher survival and cause-specific mortality in Leeds and Grenville County, Ontario, from 2003–2005. The overall 2-year survival rate (95% CI) was 0.35 (0.21-0.56, n = 59). We attributed observed mortality rates mainly to natural causes (28.6%) and nuisance trapping (21.4%). Given reported recruitment rates, our estimated fisher mortality has likely led to population declines in the study area, especially during 2003. Thus, we do not recommend an increase in fisher harvest quotas in the study area at this time. |
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| Keywords: | cause-specific mortality fisher Martes pennanti Ontario radiotelemetry survival trapping |
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