CWBM 2014: Volume 3, Number 1 ISSN: 1929-3100 Original Research Occurrence and Distribution of Fishers (Pekania pennanti) in the Central Aspen Parklands of Alberta Gilbert PROULX1 and H. Loney DICKSON2 1 Alpha Wildlife Research & Management Ltd., 229 Lilac Terrace, Sherwood Park, Alberta, T8H 1W3, Canada. Email: [email protected] 2 53442 Range Road 222, Ardrossan, Alberta, T8E 2M5, Canada. Email: [email protected] Abstract We re-investigated the occurrence and distribution of Fishers (Pekania pennanti) released in the Elk Island National Park – Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area – Ministik Lake Bird Sanctuary complex in the early 1990s. From March to November 2013, we set remote cameras in deciduous forests in areas where Fishers were originally released, and in surrounding natural reserves up to 60 km from the original release sites. We confirmed the presence of Fisher in 95 videos which corresponded to at least 6 different individuals. Fishers are still present in the original release areas and have expanded northward 20 km. The success of the translocation program is likely the result of releasing numerous (65%) females and large adult males from different populations in several locations. Choosing a large, contiguous “forested island” within this otherwise agricultural landscape also contributed to the release success. This study shows that it is possible to re-establish Fishers in ecosystems that have been affected by agricultural and urban developments, as long as large, contiguous areas of forested habitats are maintained and protected. Key Words: Alberta, Aspen Parklands, Fisher, Pekania pennanti, Remote Cameras, Translocation. INTrodUCTioN south of the North Saskatchewan River. In the early 1990s, there were no Fishers inhabiting the Aspen In the early 1900s, Fishers (Pekania pennanti, formerly Martes Parkland of central Alberta. Twenty Fishers that were held in pennanti; Sato et al. 2012) were found primarily in northern captivity at the Alberta Research Council research facilities in coniferous forests of Alberta, even though they probably inhabited Vegreville, Alberta, for behavioural studies were released in 1990 the southern deciduous forests of the Aspen (Populus tremuloides) and 1991(Proulx et al. 1994; Badry et al. 1997). Seventeen of Parkland before European settlement (Hagmeier 1956, 1959). A them had been captured in Ontario (towns of Aspley, Bancroft combination of habitat loss through logging and fire, as well as and Boulter) and Manitoba (town of Steinbach), and three were mortality through trapping and poisoning (strychnine) (Douglas born in captivity in Vegreville (Proulx et al. 1994). Proulx et al. and Strickland 1987) resulted in the extirpation of the species (1994) released 17 Fishers in the Elk Island National Park (EINP) – Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area (CBA) Correspondence: Gilbert Proulx, Alpha Wildlife Research & Management – Ministik Lake Bird Sanctuary (MLS) complex (hereafter Ltd., 299 Lilac Terrace, Sherwood Park, Alberta, T8H 1W3, Canada. 2 referred to as the ECM complex), a 400-km area near the City of Email: [email protected] Edmonton, Alberta (Figure 1). Nine animals (three groups, each PROULX and DickSON Page 16 53o59’N ~25 km Areas surveyed with remote cameras 53o21’N Figure 1. Location of study area in the Alberta central Aspen Parklands, and areas where remote cameras were set at 29 stations, March-November 2013. with two non-pregnant females and one male) were released in the vegetation cover is reduced and food sources are limited (Proulx March 1990, in mixed forest stands in MLS. Proulx et al. (1994) et al. 1994). In contrast, Fishers released in June 1990 and August also released 8 Fishers in June 1990: two groups of two females 1991, remained in the vicinity of their release sites. At that time and one male in deciduous forest stands of EINP (southern region of year, there was a dense canopy and abundant food, and Fishers only) and CBA; and one male and one female in a mixed forest of were not searching for mates (Proulx et al. 1994). During warm MLS (Figure 2a). Three more Fishers (one male and two females) weather (≥ 0oC), mean annual home-range areas were 24 km2 for were released individually in August 1991: two in MLS, and one males, and 15 km2 for females. During cold weather (< 0oC), mean in CBA (Badry 1994). At time of release, the animals were large annual home-range areas were 15 km2 for both males and females; (males weighed 5.6-6.8 kg, and females 3-4.6 kg; compared to Fishers preferred deciduous forests with well-developed understory what Banfield (1974) reported, i.e., 2.6-5.5 kg for males and 1.3- vegetation (Badry et al. 1997). 3.1 kg for females). All the Fishers released in 1990 were radio- In 1993, when the monitoring of the Fisher movements ended, tagged and their movements across landscapes monitored from males were still in proximity of the females, many sightings had March 1990 to September 1992 (Proulx et al. 1994; Badry et al. been reported by naturalists visiting the release areas, and a young 1997). Within 24 hours of their release in March 1990, Fishers left Fisher was captured in a Beaver (Castor canadensis) trap (Proulx the areas and travelled long distances. Four weeks later, they were 2005). A road-killed Fisher was also found in 2003, approximately found more than 30 km away from the release sites. The animals 30 km east from Elk Island National Park (Dekker 2005; Proulx crossed roads, grasslands and wetlands. At least four of them died 2005). From January to March 2006, and November 2006 to due to fights with other released Fishers, or were killed by domestic February 2007, Proulx and Genereux (2009) inventoried CBA dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) or vehicles (Proulx et al. 1994). These by snowshoeing 136 km of trails over two years. They recorded long-distance movements may have been related to breeding or to the presence of Fishers in 16 locations near the northern border of exploration of an unfamiliar environment at a time of year when the area (immediately south of EINP border; Figure 1), and they Page 17 PROULX and DickSON Figure 2. Location of (a) 1990-1991 Fisher release sites (after Badry et al. 1993; Proulx et al. 1994), and (b) stations with remote cameras and Fishers (see corresponding numbers in Figure 3) in the ECM complex, March-November 2013. Stations located west and north of Elk Island National Park had no Fisher recordings and were not plotted on this map. confirmed the presence of at least two Fishers. deciduous groves. The groves comprise predominantly Aspen, Although persistence of the released Fisher population was together with Balsam Poplar (Populus balsamifera), willows (Salix ascertained in CBA (Proulx and Genereux 2009), the presence of spp.), White Birch (Betula papyrifera), and White Spruce (Picea Fishers in other release areas, and the distribution of the species in glauca) (Hardy Associates Ltd. 1986; Looman and Best 1987). the Aspen Parklands of central Alberta, remained unknown. Large mixed coniferous-deciduous forest stands characteristic of the boreal forest (Rowe 1972) were also present in MLS. Northern STUDY arEA locations of the study area consisted of Aspen-dominated forests We investigated the distribution of Fishers in EINP and adjacent with White Spruce and Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana) stands. forest stands found to the east, CBA, MLS, several natural reserves located east, south and northeast of Edmonton, and a farm situated METHODS west of EINP (Figure 1). The study area is part of the central From March 3 to November 30, 2013 we deployed 50 remote Parklands, which consist of open grassland alternating with mainly cameras at 29 stations within 14 areas (Figure 1). Cameras were PROULX and DickSON Page 18 set by fallen logs or bare ground surrounded by large tree boles. Fishers were not found west and north of EINP (Figure 1). Two cameras were set at each station, and different remote We identified at least 6 different Fishers on the basis of their camera models were paired together: Bushnell Trophy Cam XLT physical traits (Figure 3). We were unable to identify Fishers of (model 119436, Bushnell Outdoor Products, Overland Park, some recordings in the northern region of EINP (Figure 3). Kansas, USA), Moultrie Digital Game Camera (model M-990i, DISCUSSioN Moultrie Products, Alabaster, Alabama, USA), Stealth Cam This study showed that Fishers still inhabit the ECM complex Delta (models Delta 8 No Glo and Black Wolf No Glo, Stealth and had expanded northward approximately 20 km to the north Cam, Grand Prairie, Texas, USA). Considering that the released border of EINP. This complex corresponds to a “forested island” Fishers preferred deciduous forests with well-developed understory in the agricultural landscape of central Alberta. It is composed of vegetation to other forest types (Badry et al. 1997), the majority contiguous tracks of non-fragmented deciduous forest stands with of stations were chosen within deciduous forests, or at the edge of dense summer canopy cover and well-developed understory that small coniferous stands surrounded by deciduous forest; however, provides Fishers with cover and food (Badry et al. 1997). Whereas one station was set in an Aspen hedgerow and adjacent field. Fishers may be found in woodlots outside the ECM complex In each station, we mounted cameras ≤1 m above the ground, (Badry et al. 1997), we did not record them in natural reserves that and oriented them on baits placed 1-2 m away on logs or the were disconnected from the release areas. This could be explained base of large trees. We placed one piece of pig fat (covered with by the fact that Fishers avoid crossing large agricultural fields a wire mesh) and spread peanut butter on the target log or tree (Badry et al. 1997).