The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is seeking public
comment on a proposal to list the Pacific fisher as an endangered or
threatened species.
Fishers (Martes pennanti) are medium-sized forest carnivores that are
in the same family as mink and weasels. They live in forested regions including portions of the Sierras, Cascades, Klamath
Province, north coast redwoods and the Mendocino National Forest.
Habitat loss, habitat modification, forest fragmentation and trapping
for fur (up until 1945) are considered to be the main factors that
affect the fisher population in California, according to DFG..
The Pacific fisher is currently considered a "species of special
concern."
In January 2008, the Center for Biological Diversity
submitted a petition to the Fish and Game Commission to formally list
the fisher as a threatened or endangered species. As part of the status
review process, DFG is soliciting public comment regarding the
fisher's taxonomic status, ecology, biology, life history,
distribution, abundance, threats, habitat that may be essential for the
species, and recommendations for management.
Comments, data and other information must be submitted in writing to:
California Department of Fish and Game
Nongame Wildlife Program
Attn: Esther Burkett
1812 9th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
Comments may also be submitted by email to: fishercomments@dfg.ca.gov.
All comments received by Oct. 2 will be included in a DFG
report to the commission that will be submitted no later than April 23,
2010. Another 30-day public comment period will be held before the
commission makes its decision, which could occur as soon as August 2010.
DFG's petition evaluation report for the Pacific fisher can be found
at:
Joe Segura, a mild-mannered reporter for a major metropolitan newspaper, has covered Gotham City, er Long Beach, for 34 years. During his very, very long -- endless -- tenure, he's covered almost every beat, and he was the main writer for BeachWeek, which focused on life and lifestyles of the shoreline communities from downtown Long Beach to the Huntington Beach pier.
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