Divergent activity patterns of male and female fishers in a human-influenced landscape

Helen E. Chmura; Mark A. Ditmer; Gavin M. Jones; Michael K. Schwartz; Jody M. Tucker; Ronan B. Hart; Kari E. Norman; Andria M. Townsend; Sarah L. Stock; Rebecca E. Green

doi:10.1139/cjz-2025-0099

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Divergent activity patterns of male and female fishers in a human-influenced landscape

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Divergent activity patterns of male and female fishers in a human-influenced landscape

Helen E. Chmura, Mark A. Ditmer, Gavin M. Jones, Michael K. Schwartz, Jody M. Tucker, Ronan B. Hart, Kari E. Norman, Andria M. Townsend, Sarah L. Stock and Rebecca E. Green

Canadian journal of zoology, Vol.104(2), pp.1-12

01/01/2026

DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2025-0099

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Abstract

A species' daily and seasonal activity patterns are fundamental components of its ecological niche, shaping how it interacts with the surrounding community. Many species modify their activity patterns when near humans, with varying consequences. New technologies that identify the location of wildlife and humans, in combination with their behaviors, can offer insight into whether impacts of human-wildlife interactions are positive, negative, or neutral. We studied activity patterns of southern Sierra Nevada fishers (Pekania pennanti (Erxleben, 1777)) in the presence of humans in Yosemite and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks and surrounding National Forests using accelerometers and a novel human mobility dataset. We found that fishers exhibit cathemeral activity patterns (i.e., not nocturnal, diurnal, or crepuscular) that changed seasonally. We found evidence that female fishers increased activity levels when in proximity to humans and we observed increased total daily activity in females that were exposed to high numbers (>75th percentile) of smartphone detections. We did not see this in males. Our analysis suggests that male and female fishers may respond differently to humans on the landscape, which is critical for management and conservation plans to consider as they evaluate what conservation actions will be most effective at increasing fisher population numbers in a landscape popular with recreationists.

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Science & Technology

Zoology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Divergent activity patterns of male and female fishers in a human-influenced landscape
Creators: Helen E. Chmura - Rocky Mountain Research Station
Mark A. Ditmer - Rocky Mountain Research Station
Gavin M. Jones - Rocky Mountain Research Station
Michael K. Schwartz - Rocky Mountain Research Station
Jody M. Tucker - Rocky Mountain Research Station
Ronan B. Hart - Rocky Mountain Research Station
Kari E. Norman - Rocky Mountain Research Station
Andria M. Townsend - Yosemite Community College District
Sarah L. Stock - Yosemite National Park
Rebecca E. Green - California Department of Parks and Recreation
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Canadian journal of zoology, Vol.104(2), pp.1-12
DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2025-0099
ISSN: 0008-4301
eISSN: 1480-3283
Publisher: Canadian Science Publishing
Number of pages: 12
Grant note: Q2180100 / California Department of Fish and Wildlife Q2180100 / Yosemite Conservancy Sequoia Parks Conservancy Yosemite National Park US Fish and Wildlife Service; US Fish & Wildlife Service
Language: English
Date published: 01/01/2026
Academic Unit: School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability
Record Identifier: 9985219855602771

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