American Marten

Martes americana

Population, Conservation Status, Threats:

Considered least concern by the IUCN, though populations are decreasing. Threats include loss of habitat to development and logging. Historically, trapping has significantly reduced population, and continues to pose a threat if not appropriately regulated.

Physical Description:

Mid-sized mustelid with dark red-brown fur across most of the body. Throat and chest are lighter, yellow to white, and face is pale brown. Feet and tail are a deep brown. Coat is long and fluffy in winter, and shorter and trimmer during the summer.

Overall American marten range from University of Minnesota Duluth. Now present in most of Canada and portions of the rocky mountains, Alaska, and the pacific northwest, American martens historically were found in large parts of the northeastern part of the United States, but have since been extirpated.

Habitat:

American marten are found in forested habitats across the arctic and subarctic portions of North America, the pacific northwest, and parts of the rocky mountains. They rely upon a dense understory and forest floor for cover and as an environment to forage in.

Behavior:

Marten are adept climbers, and forage for food both in the tree canopy, on the ground, and during the snowy months, in and under the snowpack. In fact, they are more suited to deep snow than fishers, accounting for their preference for colder, higher elevation environments. A solitary species, marten rarely mingle with one another outside of the breeding season.

Diet:

Marten are generalists, able to eat a wide variety of foods. That said, they are skilled predators, and other animals make up a large portion of their diet - they primarily feed on insects, small mammals, and birds. They will also eat eggs, fruit, berries, and other vegetation such as grasses and forbs.

Reproduction:

Breeding takes place during the summer, though embryo implantation is delayed until the following spring. Post-implantation, gestation takes a little under a month. A litter of 1-5 kits are produced. Young will leave the nest at 2 months, and disperse in the fall.

Associated Species:

Bobcats, coyotes, and great-horned owls will predate upon American marten.

Illustration by Willow Sedam

Sources: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=americanmarten.main, https://vtfishandwildlife.com/learn-more/vermont-critters/mammals/american-marten, https://www.pgc.pa.gov/Wildlife/WildlifeSpecies/Pages/American-Marten-.aspx, https://mnmammals.d.umn.edu/marten

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