Marten
Martes americana
Appearance
Range & Habitat
Diet & Behaviour
Martens have the gift of agility! They are quick creatures, with sharp nails and strong arms. They have a keen hunting sense and tend to hunt alone with a quite diverse omnivorous diet. Due to their ability to eat many different things, they help balance ecosystem dynamics.
Martens usually have litter of three kits, but they can have up to six kits at once. These curious creatures mate in late July to early August, but don’t give birth to their young until March or April, which is a long time for such a small animal to be pregnant!
Martens are mainly threatened by habitat and food loss (especially because of logging), disease, and, in the past, by over-trapping for their fur.
Marten pelts are important for many First Nations and would be used to make robes for the Tlingit.