| |
PRESS RELEASE |
| |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| Date: |
November 7, 2007 |
| Contact: |
Lindsay Buhles, National Parks Conservation Association: 415-989-9921 x22 |
Reintroduction of Fisher Species a First Step Towards Restoring Native Animal Populations in Olympic National Park
Statement by Northwest Field Representative David Graves
The National Parks Conservation Association applauds the National Park Service's decision to restore the fisher to Olympic National Park. Reintroducing the fisher is a step in the right direction toward restoring native animal populations in Olympic National Park. The Olympic peninsula contains one of the few locations where large tracts of suitable habitat for the fisher still exist.
The reintroduction method selected by the Park Service calls for using fisher populations captured from a population in Canada, closely related to the types of fishers historically present in this area, as opposed to captive-bred populations. This will ensure healthy genetic diversity -- critical to a species’ survival.
The fisher, native to the Olympic peninsula, disappeared from the region due to intensive trapping during the 1800s and early 1900s, and the subsequent harvesting of the old-growth forest that reduced and fragmented the fisher’s habitat.
We are hopeful that this will be a positive model for the future reintroduction of other important wildlife species in national parks throughout the country.
###
