Mammals at the Cofrin Center for Biodiversity

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martrens sleeping under a tree. American martens (Martes Americana) are small, rare members of the weasel family often confused with two other weasels: (Martens pennanti) and stone martens (Martens foina). Fishers live in similar habitat, have similar tracks and are darker in color than pine martens. Stone martens are non-native species and are also about the size of the male pine marten. Marten are rather solitary creatures except during the mating season. Mating pairs are temporary and the males may have several mates at the same time. The litter, averaging three young, is born in April or early May. Home ranges of the marten vary in size in response to population levels and food availability. Martens prey on small mammals, particularly mice and voles. Other small mammal prey include ground squirrels (Spermophilus spp.), flying squirrels (Glaucomys spp.), chipmunks (Tamias spp.), and snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus). The marten's diet can also include insects, various fruits and nuts, and passerine birds.

As a species, American martens are not endangered in the U.S. or Canada. In some parts of their range, however, martens have been extirpated or are endangered. In 1972, pine martens were placed on the Wisconsin Endangered Species List. Only through recent efforts to introduce martens from other parts of North America has a population marten profile. been reestablished in Wisconsin. The Nicolet National Forest population is increasing. It's too early to determine the status of the newly reestablished Chequamegon population (Gieck, 1986).

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
   Order: Carnivora
    Family: Mustelidae
     Subfamily: Mustelinae
      Genus: Martes
       Species: Martes americana

The currently accepted scientific name for the American marten is Martes
americana. Five subspecies are recognized:

Martes americana ssp. americana - eastern marten
Martes americana ssp. actuosa - marten
Martes americana ssp. atrata - Newfoundland pine marten
Martes americana ssp. origenes - Rocky Mountain marten
Martes americana ssp. sierrae - western marten
(Snyder, 1991)

Biodiversity Topics: Introduction . Plants . Animals . Mammals . Birds . Reptiles & Amphibians . Arthropods . Spiders . Insects