American Pine marten, Pine marten
American martens are small animals, living on trees. They belong to the same group as skunks and weasels. The body of marten is slim and legs are short. American marten has curved claws that help it to climb easily. The head is wide and tapers to a pointed nose. It has black eyes and big, rounded ears. The fluffy tail is half-length of it body. Its coat is velvety and stiff, having different shades, from pale buff to dark brown, in different part of its body. Meanwhile, summer coat of the marten is light-colored and shorter in length hair. It has also a creamy to orange-colored “breastplate” on its chest and throat.
Cr
CrepuscularCrepuscular animals are those that are active primarily during twilight (that is, the periods of dawn and dusk). This is distinguished from diurnal...
No
NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
Om
OmnivoreAn omnivore is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and ani...
Ca
CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
Te
TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
Ar
ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
Al
AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
Sc
ScansorialScansorial animals are those that are adapted to or specialized for climbing. Many animals climb not only in tress but also in other habitats, such...
Te
TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
Vi
ViviparousAmong animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
Bu
BurrowingA burrow is a hole or tunnel excavated into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct ...
To
TorporTorpor is a state of decreased physiological activity in an animal, usually marked by a reduced body temperature and metabolic rate. Torpor enables...
Po
PolygynyPolygyny is a mating system in which one male lives and mates with multiple females but each female only mates with a single male.
So
SolitaryGe
Generally solitaryGenerally solitary animals are those animals that spend their time separately but will gather at foraging areas or sleep in the same location or sh...
No
Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
A
starts with
American martens are widespread around northern part of North America. Habitat of martens stretches from the northernmost forests of Alaska and Canada to northern New Mexico, from California to Newfoundland. However, some small populations of American martens are estimated in the American Midwest – Wisconsin and Minnesota. Nevertheless, the major area of martens’ habitat is dense northern forest. These animals live on shore pines, fir trees and Douglas firs. American martens are more frequently found in mature and impassable forests, at all altitudes. They build their dens in empty hollows, burrows left by former dwellers and clefts in trees.
American martens lead a solitary life. Generally, they avoid other martens, but as mating season comes, they come out of dens, looking for mates. Being tree-dwelling animals, martens move deftly on trees. They possess odorous glands, which they use for marking their trail ways on trees. However, they climb down trees to hunt. Martens can be both nocturnal and diurnal. Hunting time is sunrise and sunset – the time of increased activity of all prey species. American marten is an excellent swimmer, being able to swim even under water. They are not dormant and are active during winter months.
They are omnivores, eating food of both plant and animal origin. Generally, they hunt on small species of mammals, preferring red squirrels above all. However, in reality they feed upon any kind of prey: frogs, fish, carrion, insects and birds. From plant food they eat seeds, nuts (particularly beechnuts), berries and fruits.
American marten is polygynous, which means that one male mates a number of females. Males fiercely defend their territory against unwanted guests such as other males. Breeding season takes place in summer and lasts 3 months (June-August). Gestation period lasts 28 days, after which a female gives birth to 1-5 babies. Females give birth in “natal” dens, moving then babies to maternal dens. Young grow up rapidly, being weaned at 43 days old. Thereafter, the mother leaves young by themselves, tending to breed again in the next season. American martens reach sexual maturity at 15-24 months old.
Over a long period of time, American martens have been killed and persecuted within their home range because of their pelts having huge demand in the market. Another threat is deforestation of coniferous woods, which is the major component of American martens’ habitat. Forest fires and human intervention are among the factors, threatening martens’ population in North America.
The total population number of American martens is not currently known, but it is presumed to be at least several hundred thousand individuals. Although their numbers are decreasing today, the IUCN has listed them as Least Concern, due to their wide distribution in North America.
Being predators, martens have a huge influence on prey populations, controlling and contributing to formation of forest community.
