NEAR PORT ANGELES, Wash. - The Elwah River rolls through moss covered, luxurious forests covered with a fresh blanket of snow. The Olympic National Forest seems to have it all.

But something has been missing, until now.

The fisher -- a little relative of the otter and mink -- is being reintroduced to the forest for the first time since it vanished from Washington in the early 1900's.

The reason for its disappearance was its own fine fur.

"They have amazingly luxurious coats and they were trapped for their pelts at the turn of the century really throughout North America," said Patti Happe, Olympic National Park.

The over-trapped fisher has been trapped again, but this time its for release back in existence in the Olympic National Park. It's rapid scamper into the forest marks a new day for the forest, and a bit of bad news for even the prickliest of prey who've enjoyed life without fishers.

"They are a tough customer. One of their claims to fame is they are a very efficient predator of porcupines," said Jeff Lewis, Washington Fish and Wildlife biologist.

KING

A fisher sprints for the forest after she is released into the Olympic National Park.

"Now that fishers are back running wild in the Olympic National Forest, it's time to learn from them.

Each Fisher has been tagged with a radio transmitter that will allow biologists to check up on them.

With each release, the Olympics tilt a little further back into balance. Another predator to help control the populations of smaller more prolific species, while steadily increasing its own.

This weeks' release marks the end of a ten year effort by a group of park service and fish and wildlife agents to bring the fisher back to its native home.