Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Trapping => Topic started by: Humptulips on September 07, 2013, 12:00:17 AM

Title: Fisher
Post by: Humptulips on September 07, 2013, 12:00:17 AM: Starting in 2007 Fisher were reintroduced to the Olympic Penninsula. The last release was in 2011. They have ben very wide ranging. One getting as far as Centralia. I do not know of any being trapped yet by trappers but I have heard of a few sightings. Supposedly they are an easily trapped animal so I would expect one to show up in a cage trap if there population was to become well established.
Some unanswered questions out there that WDFW seems not concerned with like what is there effect on native marten, bobcats and prey animals for these predators.
I see now through an aricle in the Centralia Chronicle which I cannot link to, the next phase of reintrodution is being planned, reintroduction to the South Cascades.
In other areas fisher are detrimental to small game species and Marten. I know on the Olympic Penninsula where I live Mountain Beaver populations are way down. I don't know if this is coincidence. No one has looked into it.
Anyway, thought I would let you know, like it or not Fisher are on there way back. They are a protected species so if you ever catch one they must be released.
I would like to hear from anyone that catches one. It will be interesting to find out how they effect trapping.
Title: Re: Fisher
Post by: ouchfoss on September 07, 2013, 08:43:58 PM: Considering I saw one cross the highway in front of me in 2011 just a little more than a mile from where I was trapping last year I have been wondering if I might catch one some day. My buddy saw one near the queets river bridge the same year too with a collar.
Title: Re: Fisher
Post by: Skyvalhunter on September 07, 2013, 09:25:56 PM: Got to keep the tree huggers happy
Title: Re: Fisher
Post by: UrbanTrapper on September 08, 2013, 03:07:01 PM: I remember reading articles about the fisher reintroduction quite a while ago. The tree farms supposedly requested it because fishers are one of the few predators that can eat tree-damaging porcupines and survive. I've talked to BC trappers who sold fishers to WA State. If fishers get established and thrive we should be able to trap them someday. I think trappers should take pictures of EVERY Fisher they see or trap, label them with date and location and send copies to WDFW to help prove they are back and thriving. Even WDFW people (some of whom are reluctant to admit some endangered animals are recovering and thriving) say a picture is hard to dismiss (but mere stories are easy to dismiss). Bruce, I will volunteer to keep a Fisher Photo Database if you'd like.
Title: Re: Fisher
Post by: X-Force on September 08, 2013, 03:11:07 PM: I know you guys are talking OP but I saw one up on the PCT last year above hwy 20. Are they typical in the cascades?
Title: Re: Fisher
Post by: Humptulips on September 08, 2013, 08:49:06 PM: Quote from: X-Force on September 08, 2013, 03:11:07 PM
I know you guys are talking OP but I saw one up on the PCT last year above hwy 20. Are they typical in the cascades?
Not typical but they could show. I cannot emphasize enough how far these things ramble.
Maybe I'll start a place to post sigtings and pictures like Dale has for the wolves.
Title: Re: Fisher
Post by: Special T on September 08, 2013, 09:26:52 PM: This state LOVES predators! We NEED to band together to document them all AND promote the hunting of all legal species!
Title: Re: Fisher
Post by: danderson on September 08, 2013, 11:37:11 PM: I'm not sure if this is a fisher or a martin, I took this picture 2 weeks ago hiking in the ALW off the PCT
Title: Re: Fisher
Post by: Humptulips on September 09, 2013, 12:06:51 AM: That is a marten. Some pictures of Fishers stickyed at the top of the page in the Report Fisher thread.