Just wanted to let you know that this Thursday will be the first release of Fisher in the South Cascades. The initial release will be in the Cispus River area of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Read more,
http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/fisher/reintroduction_cascades.htmlSo what does this mean for trappers?
Obviously you will have to release any caught in the area. I've released two and it is really no big deal. Mean and vicious? Not my experience. Just open the cage and away they go. If you want pictures be ready because they are gone in a heart beat.
If things follow through like they did in the Olympics the males will spread out and may get a long way from the release site. A 100 miles is not out of the question so be prepared to release stuff from your traps if you are in the area. Should be no problem for cat trappers.
The females will likely stick closer to the release site.
The one unknown here is marten trappers. Anyone trapping marten in the area? The males are likely to big to get in a marten trap but the females are much smaller, 4 to 6 pounds. They may squeeze into a marten trap and your trap needs to be capable of releasing them. Consider that when you are setting traps.
This is the first release and there will be more, 80 over the next couple years. They will all have radio tracking devices on them. I will try and keep you informed of the general area they are in but like I said they travel so anyplace South of Mt Rainier you may run into one.
If you catch one take some pictures of it in the trap and if possible baggy a sample of fur or scat if you find any in the trap. WSTA is partnering on this to monitor their movements. Give Jeff Lewis a call if you have something to report (360)902-2374. He is the lead on this for WDFW. OK, so not critical if you don't report because as I said there are all being monitored.
Still looking for reports from the Olympics though. Those monitors have all died.
