RIVER TALK

PA game commission plans to reintroduce the American marten

BY SCOTT RANDO
Posted 2/8/23

Pennsylvania was once home to a small animal that resembled a mink or a weasel. When settlers arrived in the 1600s, they observed these mammals in the forests of PA. 

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RIVER TALK

PA game commission plans to reintroduce the American marten

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Pennsylvania was once home to a small animal that resembled a mink or a weasel. When settlers arrived in the 1600s, they observed these mammals in the forests of PA. 

Slowly at first, but more rapidly as time went on, the mammals disappeared. By the turn of the 20th century, they were totally extirpated from the state. This was due to the loss of habitat from deforestation that occurred in large portions of the state as timber was harvested and the land was cleared. 

One of the smaller members of the weasel family, the marten averages two feet in length, about the same size as a mink. The PA Game Commission (PGC) description reads, “The marten’s fur is primarily brown on the back and sides, while exhibiting a lighter colored grayish face and an orangish neck and bib running down its chest. The marten has semi-retractable claws which help it utilize the forest canopy as well as the forest floor.”

The PGC plans to reintroduce the American marten (or pine marten) to PA, as they had reintroduced other species, such as bald eagles and elk. 

A feasibility assessment has already been completed and presented to the PGC board of commissioners in July of last year. Among the points made in the report was that un-fragmented forestland of “structural complexity” would be ideal habitat for martens; this would be mixed forest with high canopy, and white pine and northern hemlock as prevalent conifer species. Dead trees would also be present, with cavities to provide resting and denning locations for martens. (Denning, for bearing or rearing young, can be ground burrows or tree cavities excavated by woodpeckers). 

Adequate snow cover during the winter was also surveyed; martens stay under the snow, which has an insulating effect against extremely cold temperatures. Using subnivean (under the snow) zones is a trait of this species.

The future timetable for PGC’s marten reintroduction efforts will be a Reintroduction and Management Plan Draft, to be presented in July 2023. A 60-day public review and comment period will start at this time. 

The finalized plan, with integrated public comments, will be presented to the PGC board of commissioners no earlier than January 2024. 

Data from the feasibility assessment study that took place in 2022 has been presented by the PGC on a site using ArcGIS technology. It can be found at american-marten-pagame.hub.arcgis.com/.

weasels, minks, pa, pgc, american marten, pine marten

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