For Immediate Release, July 24, 2008
Contact: Kelly Lessard (952) 431-9217

Minnesota Zoo’s New Fisher Kits Make Public Debut

First fishers born at the Zoo since 1999

Apple Valley, MN – July 24, 2008: Three fisher kits born at the Minnesota Zoo–the first since 1999–are now on exhibit. The Zoo is one of only four AZA-accredited zoos to exhibit fishers and the only one to produce offspring in the last three years.

Born on Sunday, March 23, the three kits–two males and one female–are doing well and have started to explore their exhibit on the Minnesota Trail. Since their birth, they had been kept in an off-exhibit holding area with their mother to ensure their best possible health.

Fishers are known for their tree-climbing, hunting, and agility. Solitary creatures, they are constantly on the move. Fishers almost disappeared because of trapping and logging practices, but now they are doing well in the northern forests. Resembling weasels, they are dark brown in color and are found in Alaska, Canada and the northern area of the United States in both mixed wooded and heavily-forested areas. They are good swimmers and like to travel close to the water. Fishers primarily eat small mammals and are one of the only animals that eat porcupine. A litter of kits, usually 1-5 in number, are usually born in March or April after a gestation period of 352 days.

The kits, along with their mother, are on exhibit daily from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

The Minnesota Zoo is located in Apple Valley, just minutes south of Mall of America. For more information, call 952.431.9500 or visit mnzoo.org. The Minnesota Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and an institutional member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).