Marten

The American marten (Martes americana) is a member of the Mustelidae, or weasel family which also includes wolverines and fishers. They have a long slender body with long shiny fur. Their fur is light brown to black with a cream colored patch on their chest. Their legs and tail are dark brown to black, and they have a gray colored head. Females are usually smaller and lighter in color.

Martens are opportunistic feeders, and prey on small mammals such as squirrels, mice, voles, chipmunks, snowshoe hares and occasionally birds. They will also feed on insects, fruits, nuts and carrion. A favorite prey is the red squirrel. Martens are solitary and nocturnal animals, but usually feed during the day when prey is most abundant.

They are somewhat arboreal and spend much of their time dwelling in trees, but are also at home in the water. Active all winter, by living under deadfall which creates snowfree pockets, martens can suppress their body temperature many degrees, therefore minimizing energy expenditure. Breeding occurs between June and August. Home ranges vary with habitat and prey density. Like its larger cousin the fisher, the marten needs overhead cover. They have one of the narrowest ranges of habitat types of all forest carnivores and are rarely seen above the tree line. They seem to require late successional stands of mesic (moisture loving) conifers, particularly with lots of woody debris near the ground, and will avoid clearcuts.

Historically the marten was widespread throughout the Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest. Although not as effected as other species, the marten has suffered some loss of habitat due to logging and trapping. Today the marten is found in patchy populations of fragmented forest habitats.

Learn More

Marten, Lean, Mean... But Mean Enough? [PCA Article]

The Marten [excerpt from PCA "The Wild Bunch" slideshow script]

Marten Information Clearinghouse