Pubdate: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 Source: Washington Times (DC) Copyright: 2014 Associated Press Contact: http://www.washingtontimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/492 Page: A8 OFFICIALS: POT GROWERS A THREAT TO SPECIES GRANTS PASS (AP) - Citing a threat from rat poison used on illegal marijuana plantations, federal biologists on Monday proposed Endangered Species Act protection for West Coast populations of the fisher, a larger cousin of the weasel. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published notice in the Federal Register that it wants to list the fisher as a threatened species in Oregon, California and Washington. The full proposal was expected Tuesday. Other reasons for the proposal include the loss of forest habitat to wildfire, logging and urban development, disease, being eaten by other predators, illegal fur trapping and climate change. The fisher is the second species in the West for which biologists have formally recognized a threat from marijuana cultivation. A recovery plan for coho salmon calls for reducing pollution from pesticides and fertilizers used on pot plantations; decreasing illegal water withdrawals from salmon streams; and easing clear-cut logging. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom