The public can learn more tonight about the possibility of reintroducing fishers into Olympic National Park.
Fishers are a type of weasel wiped out years ago in Washington state by trapping, predator control programs and habitat loss.
As one of the park’s monthly Perspectives programs, a presentation on fishers, hosted by biologist Jeff Lewis of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, is set for 7 p.m. at the Olympic National Park Visitor Center, 3002 Mount Angeles Road, Port Angeles.
Olympic National Park spokeswoman Barb Maynes said tonight’s presentation is an informational program scheduled independently of the public comment period — but is being held during the monthlong comment-taking.
“Jeff Lewis is the state’s lead fisher biologist,” Maynes said.
“The program will be an overview of what fishers are, what their biology is, where they live.”
Park staff to attend
Olympic National Park staff will be there to collect any public comments and ensure that any issues get addressed, Maynes said.
“I think it will be an interesting program. Jeff knows quite a bit about fishers.
“He spent a lot of time studying fishers in other states and what it would take to bring them back.
Lewis also was the lead author of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife’s feasibility assessment for re-introducing the species into Washington state, Maynes said.
Studied by state
Fishers are listed as a Washington state endangered species and may become federally listed as threatened.
They are small, forest-dwelling members of the weasel family, which also includes mink, otter and marten.
Fishers are native to the forested areas of Washington, including the Olympic Peninsula, but are believed to have vanished from the state because of overtrapping in the late 1800s and early 1900s and the loss of older forest habitats.
Your chance to speak out
PUBLIC COMMENTS RECEIVED during the 30-day scoping period that ends Feb. 10 will be used to develop an environmental assessment on the proposed fisher reintroduction to Olympic National Park — including no action on the fishers.
Another 30-day public comment period on the environmental assessment will be available later this year.
Visit the Olympic National Park Web site (www.nps.gov/olym) for more information and links to several state Department of Fish and Wildlife documents, including the “Feasibility Assessment for Reintroduction of Fishers to Washington (2004)” and the “Final Fisher Status Report (1998).”
Comments on the Olympic National Park proposal can be sent by fax to 360-565-3015 or by e-mail to olym_ea@nps.gov.
They can be submitted online by selecting Olympic National Park at the National Park Service’s planning, environment and public comment Web site, parkplanning.nps.gov.
They also can be mailed to: Superintendent — Fisher Reintroduction; Olympic National Park; 600 E. Park Ave., Port Angeles, WA 98362.