The American Marten is about the size of a mink with a long body, short legs and a thick, furry coat. They can be brownish or reddish in color and have a buffy patch of fur around their throat. They are quite cute, with pronounced eyebrows that give them a quizzical look. Deforestation and hunting brought the marten close to local extinction by 1900. In the late 1980's, the marten was re-introduced into Vermont forests.
In this month's episode of Outdoor Radio, Kent McFarland and Sara Zahendra are in the middle of the Green Mountain National Forest with three biologists: Kim Royar and Katy Crumley of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Scott Wixsom of the Green Mountain National Forest. They have ventured out in the middle of a snowstorm in search of the elusive American Marten.
Martens like deep, powdery snow and the older parts of the forests with lots of downed trees. So this forest near the Massachussets border is a perfect environment. They use the dead logs and branches as cover and as access into the deep snow where they tunnel for their prey. Discover how, against the odds, the American Marten has survived and flourished in the Green Mountains.
Find out more about the American Marten at these sites:
- Learn more about their habitat and habits at Vermont Fish & Wildlife Dept.
- Read this story about their population expansion in the VCE Blog.
- Check out a few sightings on iNaturalist.
- If you are lucky enough to capture one on your game camera, add it to iNaturalist.
Outdoor Radio is produced in collaboration with the Vermont Center For Ecostudies.
