By Erin Maxson and Associated Press
 
February 8, 2010
 
ASHLAND, Ore. - Four environmental groups in Oregon and California have notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that they intend to sue over the failure of the service to list the Pacific fisher as an endangered species.
 
One of those groups is the Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center in Ashland. Wildlands Center Director Joseph Vaile says the USFS stated in 2004 that the weasel-like animal needed to be listed, but it didn't have the resources to do that. He says the service needs to act now.
 
"The Fish and Wildlife Service said the fisher deserved protection, they just didn't actually move forward... so we are just trying to make sure that that happens," Vaile said.
 
"Right now, the fisher is not listed, it's a candidate species, and really it would be great if the state of Oregon could have a healthy robust population of fisher without it having to be listed," said Steve Niemela, Assistant District Wildlife Biologist.
 
The woodland predator used to have high numbers in Washington, Oregon and Northern California. However, because of previous fur trapping and a loss of habitat, fishers only live in Oregon between the Siskiyous and the Cascades.
 
Meanwhile, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Bureau of Land Management and USFS are all studying the fisher. Sue Livingston, a Portland biologist for the service, says it did list the fisher as a candidate for protection under the Endangered Species Act, but Congress did not provide the necessary money. She says the service is working with other agencies concerning the animal.