HSU issues statement taking respondibility for protocol failures leading to Fisher's death

Below is a statement by Richard Boone, Dean of HSU’s College of Natural Resources & Sciences, about the Fisher that died on campus in May.

Dean Boone: “We were disturbed by this animal’s death, take responsibility for failure to observe proper protocols, and have taken corrective actions to ensure that a mistake like this doesn’t happen again.

Dean Boone: “We’re committed to teaching and research about wildlife so that we can help protect species like the fisher. This program – where students observe the animals, participate in caring for the animals, and learn proper handling of the animals – is an important part of that effort.”

The Fisher was nearly a decade old and had health issues. It had been at Humboldt State nearly its entire life, after being anonymously dropped off on campus when it was a baby. After USDA staff made their annual inspection visit to HSU, the agency concluded that HSU did not adequately follow procedures for reporting the animal’s condition to the veterinarian.