The Minnesota Zoo is excited to announce the birth of three fisher kits–the first since 1999. The Minnesota 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 are doing well and are currently in an off-exhibit area with their mother. They are expected to go on exhibit in the Zoo’s Minnesota Trail within the next few months.

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, fishers are dark brown in color and are found in Alaska, Canada and the northern area of the United States in mixed wooded areas and in heavily-forested areas. They are good swimmers and like to travel close to the water. They primarily eat small mammals and are one of the only animals that eat porcupine. A litter of fisher kits, usually 1-5 in number, are usually born in March or April after a gestation period of 352 days.