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). (at a height of <0.5 m). We programmed cameras for 30-sec-long In 1992, the presence of Fishers in the northern portion of EINP videos with a 20-sec delay between motion-triggered recordings. was not confirmed (Badry 1994), and it took at least three years for We locked cameras to trees with braided steel cables and padlocks the animals to colonize the northern portion of the park (Proulx, to prevent theft. We left camera units in place for a minimum unpublished notes). Whereas it is unlikely that the released Fishers of 21 days. We summarized the total number of video recordings, would colonize the highly fragmented northern regions of the study and total number of hours of effort after subtracting hours when area (i.e., north of EINP), it is also doubtful that Fishers inhabiting cameras malfunctioned. One video recording was also obtained forests located west of Edmonton or in the northern boreal region from local residents Peter and Linda Kershaw who had installed a would immigrate into our study area. This implies that the Fisher video camera on their property in April 2013 near Hastings Lake, population released in 1990 and 1991 was self-sustained through northeast of MLS. Kershaw’s camera effort was not included in reproduction. It is noteworthy to mention that the number of the total number of recording hours. Fishers identified in this study correspond to a minimum number We identified individual Fishers on the basis of their location of individuals. A greater sampling effort would be required on a on specific dates, coat colour, phenotypic marks, and size. We seasonal basis to record the whole Fisher population inhabiting the did not attempt to determine the age and sex of recorded Fishers. ECM complex. We were unable to identify all the recorded Fishers for a variety On the basis of Powell et al.’s (2012) and Lewis et al.’s (2012) of reasons. Some animals were too far or too close to the cameras, analysis of criteria for successful Fisher translocations, the success were partially hidden by vegetation, or were recorded during or just of the 1990-1991 translocation program in the central Aspen following heavy precipitation resulting in poor imagery. Parklands may have been the result of releasing many adult females Results (65%) in many sites, and large males. Lewis et al. (2012) identified Cameras were set for 19,316.1 hours (805.1 days) and they proximity to source populations as a factor increasing the success recorded 16,823 individual 30-sec-long videos. The presence of Fisher translocations. Fishers released in the central Aspen of Fishers was confirmed at 9 stations (Figure 2b), in 95 video Parklands of Alberta were far from source populations. On the recordings. Fishers were still present in the ECM complex. They other hand, releasing Fishers originated from different populations were also recorded up to 20 km north of the original 1990 release in Ontario and Manitoba introduced genetic diversity that likely sites. In EINP, Fishers had been released in the southern regions prevented genetic bottleneck within the founder population (see of the park (Proulx et al. 1994). In the present study, Fishers were Swanson et al. 2006; Swanson and Kyle 2007). Other factors present throughout the northern region of the park and adjacent likely played a role in the success of this 1990-1991 translocation. forest stands to the east (Figure 2b). The presence of Fishers Proulx et al. (1994) showed that summer releases were more was confirmed in the northern regions of the CBA, immediately successful than spring ones, and Fishers limited their exploratory southeast of the EINP border. Finally, this study confirmed movements within the borders of the forests. Also, many of the the presence of Fisher in MLS. Kershaw’s video confirmed the release sites were located in forest ecosystems that were protected presence of an adult Fisher just south of Hastings Lake, near MLS. from trapping. Finally, at time of release and at present, there Page 19 PROULX and Dickson

Forest adjacent to EINP eastern border 21 April 2013

1 Southeast CBA 15 November 2013

Forest adjacent to EINP 2 eastern border 10 April 2013

EINP Central-west 8 May 2013 3

Central MLS south 4 EINP 7 September 2013 28 June 2013

Northeast EINP 5 17 October 2013

Hastings Lake 6 14 April 2013

Figure 3. Single frame photographs of six different video-recorded Fishers during the 2013 survey, in central Alberta. PROULX and Dickson Page 20 are no large predators (other than humans) in the study area, and Hagmeier, E. M. 1956. Distribution of marten and fisher in Coyotes (Canis latrans) are they only terrestrial predators that North America. Canadian Field-Naturalist 70: 149-168. would kill Fishers (see Roy 1990). Thus, even though Fishers were Hagmeier, E. M. 1959. A re-evaluation of the subspecies of fisher. “confined” to well-delineated forested areas within an agricultural Canadian Field-Naturalist 73: 185-197. region, in the absence of larger carnivores, they are protected Hardy Associates Ltd. 1986. Ecological land classification of from extensive intraguild predation. These Fishers are evidence Elk Island National Park. Report prepared for Parks Canada, that an extirpated species may be re-established in ecosystems Calgary, Alberta, Canada. that have been deteriorated by human activities, as long as large, Lewis, J. C., R. A. Powell, and W. J. Zielinski. 2012. Carnivore contiguous areas of forested habitats are maintained and protected translocations and conservation: Insights from population from further destruction. Because Fishers are found mainly in the models and field data for fishersMartes ( pennanti). PLoS ONE 7 ECM complex, their population may become less secure if there (3): e3726. doi: 10.137/journal.pone.0032726. are changes in the vegetation composition, recreational vocation, Looman, F., and K. F. Best. 1987. Budd’s flora of the Canadian and level of protection of the complex. Therefore, the conservation Prairie Provinces. Research Branch, Agriculture Canada, of Fishers in the central Aspen Parklands of Alberta warrants Publication 1662, Minister of Supply and Services Canada, continued monitoring of their occurrence and distribution over Hull, Quebec, Canada. time. Powell, R. A., J. C. Lewis, B. G. Slough, S. M. Brainerd, N. R. Jordan, A. V. Abramov, V. Monakhov, P. A. Zollner, and T. Acknowledgments Murakami. 2012. Evaluating translocations of martens, sables, Field work and expenses were covered by the authors and Alpha and fishers. Pages 93-137 in K. B. Aubry, W. J. Zielinski, M. Wildlife Research & Management Ltd. We thank Gordon Court, G. Raphael, G. Proulx, and S. W. Buskirk, editors. Biology and Alberta Environment Sustainable Resource Division, for logistical conservation of martens, sables, and fishers: A new synthesis. support, and Parks Canada for allowing us to work in Elk Island Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York, USA. National Park. We are grateful to Peter and Linda Kershaw for Proulx, G. 2005. The fisher of our Aspen Parklands. Edmonton providing us with the recording of a Fisher near Hastings Lake. NatureNews 2 (1): 21-22. We thank referees Jeffrey C. Lewis, Washington Department Proulx, G, and B. Genereux. 2009. Persistence of a reintroduced of Fish and Wildlife, and Micheal J. Badry, British Columbia fisher,Martes pennanti, population in Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Ministry of Environment, who provided helpful comments on an Provincial Recreation Area, central Alberta. Canadian Field- earlier draft of the manuscript. Naturalist 123: 178-181. Literature cited Proulx, G., A. Kolenosky, M. Badry, R. Drescher, K. Seidel, and P. Cole. 1994. Post-release movements of translocated fishers. Badry, M. J. 1994. Habitat use by fishers Martes( pennanti) in the Pages 197-203 in S.W. Buskirk, A. S. Harestad, M. G. Raphael, Aspen Parkland of Alberta. MSc thesis, University of Alberta, and R. A. Powell, editors, Martens, sables, and fishers: Biology Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. and conservation. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York Badry, M. J., G. Proulx, and P. M. Woodard. 1993. USA. Reintroduction of fisher in the aspen Parkland of Alberta. The Rowe, J. S. 1972. Forest regions of Canada. Department of Edmonton Naturalist 21 (1): 23-26. Environment, Canada Forest Service Publication 1300, Ottawa, Badry, M. J., G. Proulx, and P. M. Woodard. 1997. Habitat use Ontario, Canada. by fishers in the aspen parkland of Alberta. Pages 233-251 in Roy, K. 1990. Cabinet Mountains fisher reintroduction study. G. Proulx, H. N. Bryant, and P. M. Woodard, editors, Martes: Interim Progress Report, 1990. Montana Cooperative Wildllife Taxonomy, ecology, techniques and management. Provincial Research Unit, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, Museum of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. USA. Banfield, A. W. F. 1974. Les mammifères du Canada. Presses Sato, Jun J., M. Wolsan, F. J. Prevosti, G. D’Elía, C. Begg, Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada. K. Begg, T. Hosoda, K. L. Campbell, and H. Suzuki. Dekker, D. 2005. The elusive fisher. Edmonton NatureNews 2 (1): 2012. Evolutionary and biogeographic history of weasel-like 19-20. carnivorans (Musteloidea). Molecular Phylogenetics & Evolution Douglas, C. W., and M. A. Strickland. 1987. Fisher. Pages 511- 63: 745-758. 529 in M. Novak, J. A. Baker, M. E. Obbard, and B. Malloch, Swanson, B. J., and C. J. Kyle. 2007. Relative influence of editors. Wild furbearer management and conservation in North temporal and geographic separation of source populations in a America. Ontario Trappers Association, North Bay, Ontario, successful marten reintroduction. Journal of Mammalogy 88: Canada. 1346-1348. Page 21 PROULX and Dickson

Swanson, B. J., L. R. Peters, and C. K. Kyle. 2006. Demographic and genetic evaluation of an American marten reintroduction. Journal of Mammalogy 87: 272-280. About the authors

Gilbert Proulx is Director of Science at Alpha Wildlife Research & Management, Editor-in Chief of the Canadian Wildlife Biology & Management journal, and Chair of the international Martes Working Group (martens,Sables, Fishers, Wolverines, and Tayras). He has a BSc (Biology) from the University of Montreal, MSc (Biology) from the University of Quebec at Montreal, and PhD (Zoology) from the University of Guelph. He is a Certified Wildlife Biologist® of The Wildlife Society. He has worked in most Canadian ecozones where he studied populations and habitats of ungulates, rodents and carnivores during the last 40 years. Gilbert has published more than 120 scientific articles, 5 textbooks, and 8 field guides (species at risk). His main research interest focuses on mammals, particularly in forest and agriculture ecosystems, and the development of new technology to study animals. H. Loney Dickson i s a retired biologist and manager of Environment Canada’s Canadian Wildlife Service - Prairie and Northern Region (CWS-PNR) in Edmonton, Alberta. At the time of his retirement in 2007, Loney was the Chief of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI) for the CWS- PNR, and Chair of the National Shorebird Technical Committee. He was active on various national and regional, governmental and non-governmental partnership committees related to NABCI, and the Prairie Habitat Joint Venture, and also conducted shorebird population and habitat preference research during his career with CWS. Loney is presently an active member of the Bird Studies Canada National Board and a past chair of their National Science Council. He finds himself busy today as an enthusiastic wildlife photographer, bird watcher and weasel researcher in east central Alberta.

Received 17 March 2014 – Accepted 15 April 2014