Winter habitat use and responses to snow cover of fisher (Martes pennanti) and marten (Martes americana) in southeastern Manitoba

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Abstract
A trailing study of fisher (M. pennanti) and marten (M. americana) in the boreal forest of Manitoba, conducted over 2 winters, showed that both species preferred coniferous ridges. They also had temporal differences in their habitat use that could be partially explained by their different responses to soft snow cover. Movements of fisher were restricted by the soft, thick snow cover that was present during midwinter. Fewer tracks were observed at that time, and fisher traveled on snowshoe hare trails and their own trails more than in either the early winter period of thin snow cover or the late winter period of crust conditions. Fisher also walked through the snow cover and left a body-drag in midwinter. Marten did not appear to be hindered by soft snow cover to the degree that fisher were. Marten tracks were encountered with equal frequency throughout the winter and marten never left a body drag in the snow cover. They did travel upon hare trails to a greater extent in midwinter, but never as much as did fisher.