Location: Range-wide
Research Type: Review article
Forest Type:
In general martens prefer:
A) mesic forests over xeric forests:
(1) In Rocky Mountains, high elevation stands dominated by spruce/fir
(2) In temparate latitudes, riparian forests
B) structurally complex stands over simple stands
(1) low and closed canopies
(2) avoidance of open areas
C) late successional over early successional

Edge Effects:
In general martens prefer:
A) forest/meadow edges
B) Patches of preferred habitat that are interconnected by other forest types are used by marten but patches of preferred habitat that are separated by open areas of sufficient size are not likely to be used at all.

Seasonality: During winter, martens prefer conifer dominated over hardwood dominated forests and of conifer dominated stands over young ones. Even where limited use of non-forest cover in summer, avoid non-forested areas completely in winter.

Demography: Juveniles are less selective with respect to habitat preference than adults.

Life needs and habitat use:
(1) May need more cover to avoid predation; large amounts of Coarse Woody Debris may substitute for cover if available
(2) Access to subnivean spaces for prey
(3) Access to subnivean spaces for thermoneutral resting
(4) Prey must be predictable; therefore "catchability" of prey is critical and probably related to forest structure and prey abundance and behavior.

Managememt Recommendations: "Distributional losses of martenpopulations in response to habitat change provide evidence that populations require the habitats that individuals, especially reproductive adults, behaviorally prefer." Thus, authors believe that martens require certain stand types such as old-growth conifers to survive.