North Cascades sees first wild-born fisher in decades

Trail cameras have detected the first confirmed wild-born fisher in the North Cascades in years. According to the state of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, photos showed a female fisher (Pekania pennanti) with four kits in April. “Seeing one fisher kit born in the wild North Cascades is a wonder; photos showing a group of wild kits is phenomenal,” said Dave Werntz, Science and Conservation Director for Conservation Northwest, in a press release. “This new family is an auspicious sign that these reintroduced fishers are finding a good home in the North Cascades.” From 2018 to 2020, the National Park Service, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Conservation Northwest, and Calgary Zoo worked together to release 89 fishers into the North Cascades National Park Service Complex and Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. This photo marks the first evidence of one of these released animals reproducing.

A female fisher moves a kit on this trail camera photo.
Credit: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Read more at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife News.