Dear Editor,
Unchecked trapping poses a serious and largely unnoticed threat to Vermont’s imperiled fisher population. It shouldn’t have to come to this. Why does it take Protect Our Wildlife (POW), an all-volunteer Vermont nonprofit, to petition Vermont Fish & Wildlife to get them to protect Vermont’s imperiled wildlife? Fish & Wildlife is well aware that the fisher population is in danger due to rodenticide poisoning and other threats. However, they still allow a recreational trapping season with no limit on the number of animals that may be killed. According to their own data, the population is trending downward.
The Fish & Wildlife furbearer biologist Brehan Furfey testified before the Senate Agriculture Committee in Feb.2024 concerning rodenticide, stating that all fisher samples tested positive for rodenticide poisoning. Despite this, in addition to the recreational trapping season, Fish & Wildlife allows year-round killing of fisher and other animals labeled as “furbearer” species under the dangerously permissive “wild animals causing damage” statute, title 10 V.S.A. §4828. Unchecked trapping only compounds the existing threats to this species.
A POW Board member, who also has a Masters in Conservation Biology, spent the last few months analyzing data and took a deep dive into the issue. She shared her findings in a report she submitted to the Fish & Wildlife Dept. and Board (shared on Fish & Wildlife’s website). There is no green-washing the issue: 100% of fisher recently sampled tested positive for rodenticide poisoning.
The fisher (Pekania pennanti) is a carnivorous forest-dwelling mammal native to North America. It is a member of the Mustelid (weasel) family and is closely related to the American marten, an endangered species in Vermont.
Traps set for fisher also place protected marten in direct danger, which is another reason to stop the unchecked trapping of fisher. A trap set for fisher cannot differentiate between the intended target and a look-alike species, the marten.
Fisher are a vital predator species who perform an outsized role of keeping small mammal and rodent populations in check. They are an essential contributor to healthy ecosystems. There is no biological imperative to kill them. There is, however, empirical evidence to protect them.
The petition hearing is on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 5 p.m.
Will Fish & Wildlife seek to downplay the threats and obfuscate an apparent decline in population, or will they take this opportunity to reach across the aisle and do what is right?
For more info, visit:
ProtectOurWildlifeVT.org.
Brenna Galdenzi, Stowe
Editor’s note: Galdenzi is the president of Protect Our Wildlife, a Vermont-based advocacy group.
