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| The adult male Marten measures about 60 cm long, with about 15 cm of that being the tail. Females, only about 50 cm long in total, weigh less as well, at about 650 g versus the male at almost 1000 g. They have a dark brown fur coat and a bright orange throat patch. Their faces are lighter than the body, with large pointed ears. Marten are solitary animals and maintain living areas (called home ranges). Females may cover Iittle more than one square kilometer, while males range over an area about three times as large. They are nocturnal, though often active in the day as well. Males and females spend time together only during the mating season in late July and early August. The female rears the young alone. Litter size ranges from two to six, born in March or April, eight or nine months after mating. The young are born in a den, usually located inside a hollow tree. At birth, they weigh about 30 grams, are blind, and are covered with a very fine fur. In spite of the Marten's reputation of being agile climbers, they spend much of their time on the ground. Red-backed voles, deer mice, field voles, varying hare, grouse, squirrels, and shrews tend to be a major part of their diet. They also eat bird's eggs and amphibians, and quite often gorge on raspberries and blueberries. Marten have few natural enemies. Hawks and owls occasionally prey upon an unwary Marten. |
(Family Mustelidae)
American Marten (Martes americana)
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