A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Pekania pennanti
Fishers have five toes on each foot, with unsheathed, retractable claws. Their feet are large, making it easier for them to move on top of snow packs. In addition to the toes, four central pads are on each foot. On the hind paws are coarse hairs that grow between the pads and the toes, giving them added traction when walking on slippery surfaces. Fishers have highly mobile ankle joints that can rotate their hind paws almost 180°, allowing them to maneuver well in trees and climb down head-first. The fisher is one of relatively few mammalian species with the ability to descend trees head-first.(Wikipedia)
Spotted in a pine forest just south of Lake Cle Elum in the foothills of the Cascade mountains.
The Fisher has been reintroduced here in Washington. I've studied countless pictures of Washington animal tracks and this is the best I can come up with - it seams to fit the models the best (even the retractable claws). If anyone has another possibility I would love to hear about it.
Spotted on Jan 29, 2018
Submitted on Apr 15, 2018
No Comments