Fisher releases N Cascades

[Humptulips]

This year will be the first year of fisher reintroduction in the N Cascades. This year and last year the area in B.C. where the fisher were being caught was burned over so DFW is getting fisher this year from an area in Alberta. Today is the first day setting traps for them so by the time season opens we may see the first releases.
The first release will be at Nehalem but subsequent releases will be on US Forest Service ground north of Stevens Pass. These releases are open to the public so if you want to attend keep and eye out here. I will post releases as I find out about them.
There will also be some more releases in the south Cascades. They were only able to put 69 into the south Cascades and they want to raise that number to at least 100.
Fellas, you can now expect it possible to catch a fisher in all of W WA and even the east side of the Cascades. The darn things are travelers and it is very possible some will travel a 100 miles and maybe more from their release site.
So be aware you could catch one. You might take a look at the pictures in the hunting pamphlet or trapping pamphlet.
We had one killed last year through misidentification. We do not want to have that happen again.
Every one of these have an internal radio transmitter in them but DFW is still interested in hearing from you if you catch one. They would like a location, picture and if possible a DNA sample. After you release look for some scat or hairs the fisher may have left, stick in an envelope and send to WDFW Attn, Jeff Lewis, PO Box 43200 Olympia WA 98504-3200

Some seem to be of the impression fisher prefer the mountains where marten are found. Not true. They prefer 3500 feet elevation and down. That one killed was raiding someone's chicken coop so expect them anywhere. 

[boneaddict]

I saw one in the Methow Valley last summer.   It walked within about 5 feet of my wife and I.   Awesome sight.

A large Jack.  (Do they call them Jacks)

[Humptulips]

I saw one in the Methow Valley last summer.   It walked within about 5 feet of my wife and I.   Awesome sight.

A large Jack.  (Do they call them Jacks)

Any chance you have a picture. I know DFW would be interested.
Not sure about calling them a jack.

[boneaddict]

OH I WISH!!!   
I don't.  I had to make a choice of taking pack off, and pulling the camera out of the waterproof bag, and risk scaring him, or let him proceed down the creek we were in and see how close he'd get to us.  We were both standing in water and he was loping along the bank in and out of the water nose to the ground.   It took a bit for my wife to understand and see what I was pointing at.   I was just happy she got to see him.  I've showed her a lot of new stuff so she didn't really realize how awesome this encounter was.  He got straight across from us, about 5 feet away before he perceived a threat.   He paused then climbed straight away up the bank and into the forest.  My guess would have been about 15 pounds, what I viewed as a large male.

I had/have no plans of reporting it.  First you deal with the skeptics (it was just a mink).  Sort of like comparing a dachsund to a basset hound.
Then you have the army of biologists, lookie lews and possible closure of one of your favorite areas.  No thanks.

I used to refer to them as Bulls, but have heard Jacks which is a weasel term, so don't know. 

[Trapper John]

Keep us updated Bruce, I like to go see it again and represent WSTA   
JC