Fisher Release 2016

[Trapper John]

Hi Guys & Gals,   
Bruce and I went out yesterday at helped with the release of the Fisher into Washington State.  It started out raining cats & dogs (hard rain) but at release time the sun came out.
What surprised both of us was that everybody (well maybe not everybody but close) came up to both of us and "Thanked Both of Us for showing up" and were glad we did and were looking forward on seeing us.  I personally had four agencies  thanked me.  We had several discussions with people from different agencies that are looking forward to working with WSTA and our members.  Bruce can elaborate a little more about it.  I think this Release Project and our involvement will benefit our members and trappers to come in the future.
JC   

Picture #1 is the transport boxes
Picture #2 is Bruce and the crowd carrying the Fisher up to the release area
Picture #3 is Bruce protecting / watching over the Fisher ........... or maybe just sitting down 
Picture #4 is one of the Fisher backing out, back in, backing out, back in and finely turned around at took off
Picture #5 is Fisher found his opportunity to run for it
Picture #6 is a flash ........ off and running

[pd]

Great work, John.  Holy Smokes, that fisher is huge.

I climb in the Eastern Olympics every summer, and the NPS always asks our crew to watch out for fishers preying on golden marmots.  Those marmots are very big, but would be no match against a fisher---mean SOBs!

[ouchfoss]

Very cool! 
Glad to hear you guys were part of the whole release event. Maybe this will help them realize that trappers aren't the spawn of satan that PETA claims we are. Maybe.......

[Machias]

Awesome photos!!

[Trapper John]

You know what was interesting, we were talking with this person / Biologist and she is monitoring the first Fisher release last year over on the peninsula.  She said that they know for a fact that bobcats and cougar are killing and eating Fisher.  They know that one cougar for sure killed and eat a Fisher.

I guess our next project is to get the Department to allow us to trap cougars.  Its a thought, we just might have to put that in their ears if we are going to reintroduce Fisher into the state and hope they will take.  Or we might have to get a bunch of us guys and have Bruce guide us on where all of those big cats are on the peninsula.   

These Fisher are about 15 lbs or so.  Nice and big but I was talking with this other person (another Biologist) and she said that they are smaller than the Fisher on the east coast.  These Fisher are coming out of BC because of their DNA. Their DNA are close to what use to be hear.
JC   

[Machias]

 

[JakeLand]

  right on how many were released and the sexes?

[jasnt]

Looks awesome! I'd had loved to be there! Thanks for the report.  Would absolutely love a cougar trapping season!!!! We got cougar all over this area. Saw one yesterday and 2 today!

[JakeLand]

Bruce looks like Indiana jones with the holy grail  sitting by the boxes

[Humptulips]

right on how many were released and the sexes?

In this release there were 4 males and 2 females. They are aiming for a total of 40 fisher released this year and 40 next year. They would like  to have about 60% females but they kind of have to take what they can get. This will make 17 for the year so there will probably be at least 3 more releases. They need to be done before the end of February. Possible they might fall a little short this year.
So far all the ones they have released this year are within 15 miles of the release point.
On the Olympics they had 27 different release points but have reduced that to 5 in the South Cascades. In the Olympics the fisher scattered too much which made it hard for them to find a mate come breeding season.
I went mainly because I wanted to see a female. I've turned two out of traps and supposedly they both were males. At least that is what Jeff (guy in charge) thought. I have my doubts after seeing them. Males are supposed to be about twice the size of females but when you see them it is not that noticeable. They have such long fur it kind of masks their true size so it is really hard to tell the sexes apart.
BC trappers are getting paid $500/fisher for their work. About $600,000 for the project so you can see who is at the bottom of the pay scale. Most of the money is coming from the NPS.

[JakeLand]

Are there any reason For them to NOT release them  like between I-90 and highway 2 area ? Or is it not suitable for Fischer? Would be cool

[Humptulips]

If things go well in maybe three years they will start with a reintroduction to the North Cascades. That are extends from Hwy 2 up into North Cascades Park. All on the west side of the crest.
They are trying to keep them away from a lot of traffic if possible. They are just stupid around cars. That has been the biggest mortality factor, getting hit on the Hwy.
I had one run out in the road in front of me and it just stood there in the middle of the road while I drove up and stopped maybe 20 feet from it.

[BOWHUNTER45]

That's cool ... where did they move them from ? 

[DishBogget]

Very cool and thank you for representing us (wsta) I'd love to get involved even if it's just to watch a release , how can I do so?

[Humptulips]

That's cool ... where did they move them from ?

They are coming from West Central BC.

Very cool and thank you for representing us (wsta) I'd love to get involved even if it's just to watch a release , how can I do so?

PM me your email and I could ask Jeff to add it to the notification list for the next release.