Bruces trapline season 2

[onetrapper]

One of the collared fisher is hanging out on the east satsop he traveled all the way from the peninsula area.   also they are finding that mountain beaver are a favorite food...so maybe this might explain the area you are finding them

[Bigshooter]

That last fisher you caught that doesn't look like one of your traps.  Or have you changed something on your traps now?  Camtrip Trap?

[Humptulips]

Yea, camtrip. I bought that one.

[Alpinist]

Fisher #2 looks larger than the first. Is that right, Bruce? Judging by the shape of the head I would guess it to be a male of at least 3-4 years. It could have been one of the fishers released a few years ago. Fisher #1 looks like a much younger male or female and may have been born on the peninsula. I'm really surprised WDFW hasn't reached out to trappers around the release area for help in monitoring the success of the reintroduction program. At the very least I would expect them to request hair samples from each captured fisher for genetic testing.

If the reintroduction program in WA is as successful as in some other states it may be possible to open a limited season on fishers in a few counties in less than 10 years. That's something to look forward to. Fishers are great furbearers and easy to trap in cages.

[trapperguy22]

Bruce,
Did either of them have quills in them? Every fisher I have caught in wi. Had quills in them. They are the only natural predator of the porky pine that's why they were Reintroduced I to wi. In the 60's and they are everywhere there now.

[Machias]

Awesome Bruce!!!

[ouchfoss]

I can just imagine Bruce walking up to that closed cage, looking inside and saying "are you kidding me". 
You should have bought a mega millions ticket last night, luck seems to be following you.

[jasnt]

That is awesome thanks for sharing. Hope the shoulder is feeling better

[Humptulips]

Fisher #2 looks larger than the first. Is that right, Bruce? Judging by the shape of the head I would guess it to be a male of at least 3-4 years. It could have been one of the fishers released a few years ago. Fisher #1 looks like a much younger male or female and may have been born on the peninsula. I'm really surprised WDFW hasn't reached out to trappers around the release area for help in monitoring the success of the reintroduction program. At the very least I would expect them to request hair samples from each captured fisher for genetic testing.

If the reintroduction program in WA is as successful as in some other states it may be possible to open a limited season on fishers in a few counties in less than 10 years. That's something to look forward to. Fishers are great furbearers and easy to trap in cages.

Yes #2 looked bigger and it looked older to me. As far as sex and weight I really couldn't say. You could well be right but myself having seen only two and not actually touching them I haven't a clue.

The reintroduction program is likely to take a long time. When they were planning it the idea was to introduce to the Olympics and if successful then the South Cascades. If they became well established in both areas they would talk about delisting. WDFW was not the lead agency on this. Conservation NorthWest put up some seed money but The Park Service financed most of this.
WSTA years ago tried to get WDFW to do a reintroduction but they would not put any money into it. A reintroduction in the South Cascades is probably dependent on getting some money from the Feds.
That is why I think a trapping season on them may be a long time coming. They are travelers though and if they are successful they might spread on their own. I would sure like to hear someone report one off the Penninsula. They basically spread to all corners of the Penninsula in the first year according to the telemetry so I can readily see them in the Capitol Forest soon. I think the Chehalis R is a major obstacle though so it may be awhile before they get farther south. All my own opinion.

Bruce,
Did either of them have quills in them? Every fisher I have caught in wi. Had quills in them. They are the only natural predator of the porky pine that's why they were Reintroduced I to wi. In the 60's and they are everywhere there now.

Ha, it's not like I examined them close but no. Porkys are just about non-existant up here anyway.

I can just imagine Bruce walking up to that closed cage, looking inside and saying "are you kidding me". 
You should have bought a mega millions ticket last night, luck seems to be following you.

Where's the luck in that? Maybe cool but that doesn't pay my mechanics bill which came to $1641 today.
Anyone want to calculate how many civet cats that is?

[Machias]

Ouch!  Yea isn't it right around  274 civets?  Better get busy! 

[onetrapper]

Collared one on the upper satsop. Also people see it crossing the road

[MooseZ25]

Thanks for the post I really enjoy them.

[Whitpirate]

tagging to follow along

[Turner89]

Pretty good stuff What elevation do  Fisher normally live in?

[Humptulips]

Pretty good stuff What elevation do  Fisher normally live in?

From the telemetry they had on the collared ones it looked like any elevation. They did seem to end up along the coast and the lower river valleys but I think that is where the food is. They had some hanging in the high Olympics too.