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It is one of the most secretive and unknown creatures in our forests, but also one of the fastest in short bursts. It mainly hunts snowshoe hares, squirrels, rodents, and birds, but also holds the distinction of being able to kill porcupines — a seemingly impenetrable prey — by attacking their faces.

“Get a porcupine out in the open and fishers are fast enough that they can circle around, zip in, bite the nose … and back away before the porcupine can swing its tail,” said Rich Weir, a fisher biologist with the Ministry of Environment. “I’ve never seen it, but apparently it’s pretty grisly.”

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Photo by Northwest Trek Wildlife Park / PNG

Now, the fisher is emerging as B.C.’s unlikely canary in the coal mine, a warning sign for the ecological impact of aggressive clearcut logging and extensive wildfires.

“It’s too bad,” said Brian Dack, Kamloops-based president of the B.C. Trappers Association.”People in the Lower Mainland are only concerned about the (Trans Mountain) pipeline expansion, when more emphasis should be put on the Interior of the province and all of the habitat loss …”