Trapper get albino fisher.

[Lee Borgersen]

              Trapper catches albino fisher.

John Jugovich of Chisholm holds two fishers he trapped in this fall’s recent season for marten and fisher. One is an albino, while the other is the normal color of a fisher.

The albino fisher weighed about 8 pounds, Jugovich said. He trapped it near Buhl on Nov. 28. Jugovich got his limit (two) for fisher, but was unable to catch a pine marten, he said.

Albinism is caused when an animal inherits a trait that interrupts the production of melanin, which gives animals their skin color.

Chris Balzer, Department of Natural Resources area wildlife manager at Cloquet, said any vertebrate animal can have albino traits, although it is rare.

“It doesn’t surprise me,” Balzer said. “But I’ve checked a lot of fisher at fur registrations over the years, and I’ve never seen one.”

[GRIZ]

I have only seen 2 pics of albino fisher before an funny thing is they were both from MN. I have only personally had a run in with albino's from the water. Three sunfish one day and believe me it took 4 hrs to get them. I could see them an they wouldn't bite. Well I kept at it an eventually caught them. Then the other instance was with leeches, I've had three ponds that would have a few everyday. Never did try them for bait as I didn't have time during season but wanted to.