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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW ScienceWorks celebration to include North Medford's high-altitude balloon launch ... Oregon steps up bat search amid new disease scare ... Since You Asked: Lost Creek, Applegate lakes on pace to fill ... ScienceWorks celebration to include North Medford's high-altitude balloon launch ... Oregon steps up bat search amid new disease scare ... Since You Asked: Lost Creek, Applegate lakes on pace to fill ... OUR VIEW Our View: Fisher decision takes a balanced approach Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Apr. 17, 2016 at 12:01 AM Posted Apr. 17, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has made a reasoned, balanced decision not to list the Pacific fisher as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Now it's up to private timberland owners and others to live up to their commitment to support efforts to increase the animal's population. The fisher, a member of the weasel family, inhabits forests in the Pacific Northwest and California. While several threats do pose a risk to specific fisher populations, none of those affects the entire population, and federal wildlife officials say the animal is not in danger of going extinct, making Endangered Species Act protection unnecessary at this point. The decision also recognizes the fact that the single biggest threat to the animals — trapping, which nearly wiped the species out in the late 1800s and early 1900s — ended many years ago. Modern-day threats include rat poison used by growers of illegal marijuana plantations on federal land, some logging practices and wildfires. All of those threats still exist, the wildlife service determined, but none affects fisher populations everywhere they live. Marijuana grows, for instance, are present in Southern Oregon and northern California, but not in northern Oregon and Washington state, where the climate is less suitable. Logging practices affect fishers on private timberlands, but not in wilderness areas and public forests where no logging is taking place. The Ashland Forest Resiliency Project, a cooperative venture of wildfire thinning and selective logging, is also a laboratory for biologists studying the fisher's ability to adapt to those changes in its habitat. At the same time, the project is reducing the likelihood of wildfire, thus helping remove one of the threats to the animal. Timber companies and small woodland owners have been working with federal officials to draw up agreements pledging to protect fisher habitat, including denning sites, on their lands and to work with wildlife managers to reintroduce fisher from other lands. In return, federal authorities agree to protect the landowners against additional restrictions should the animal ever be listed under the Endangered Species Act. This cooperative approach offers a better solution than imposing restrictions on landowners beyond what is necessary to prevent extinction. Environmental activists should give the voluntary measures a chance to work. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Apr. 17, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501