The Newfoundland pine marten (Martes americana atrata) is a subspecies of the American marten. It inhabits only the island of Newfoundland and is one of only 14 species of land mammals native to the island. It has been geographically and reproductively isolated from the mainland marten population for 7000 years. This subspecies was listed as endangered by the COSEWIC in 2001 and has been protected since 1934, however the population still declines.
The Newfoundland pine marten has a long, slender body with relatively large, rounded ears, short limbs, and a bushy tail. It is similar in appearance to its continental cousin, the American marten, but is slightly larger, with dark brown fur with an orange/yellow patch on the throat.
This subspecies is found only on the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Within this range, martens inhabit mature coniferous forests with overhead canopy for security and avoidance of predation, with abundant coarse woody debris and large diameter trees for winter resting sites, maternal dens, access to small mammal prey in winter, as well as thermoregulation.
Newfoundland pine martens are known to be territorial and show home-range fidelity. Their home range size change between years for both the males and the females depending on the food abundance as well as the individual's ability to obtain their prey. Within the year, martens may modify their movements during the winter because it is an additional energetic constraint that they have to respond to the harsher weather conditions and lower resource availability. In general, American martens may be nocturnal or diurnal. They lead a solitary life and avoid each other until the beginning of the breeding season. Martens are tree-dwelling animals and move deftly on trees. They have odorous glands, which they use for marking their trailways on trees. American martens are well adapted to snow and travel extensively under the snowpack. They are also excellent swimmers, being able to swim even under the water. They communicate with each other using various vocalizations including huffs, chuckles, and shouts, or visual signals such as different body postures.
Newfoundland pine martens are omnivores meaning they eat animal and plant matter. Their diet includes Meadow voles, Masked shrews, Snowshoe hares, Red squirrels, moose and caribou carrion, insects, birds, and berries.
Newfoundland pine martens are polygynous, which means that one male mates with a number of females. The breeding season begins in early July and continues until late July to August. During this time period, there is an increase in scent-marking and aggression. The scent-marking brings individuals together for mating. The young are born in April in litter sizes of 1-5 kits inside warm dens sometimes underground, usually on steep slopes. Den sites have also included rock piles, squirrel middens, and tree cavities. The kits are born blind, deaf, and fur-less. They are usually weaned at about 42 days and become reproductively mature at 15 months of age.
Trapping and destruction of forest habitat are the major threats to Newfoundland pine martens. Habitat loss occurs from clear-cut harvesting techniques that are practiced throughout the boreal forest, agricultural development, mining operations, expansion of development areas, and construction of roads and utility corridors. Newfoundland martens depend on the forested area for denning and resting sites, foraging habitat as well as breeding habitat. Historically, overtrapping had been the cause of decline for the Newfoundland marten. During the mid-1800s it was documented many thousands of marten pelts were exported to the United Kingdom from communities in Newfoundland. Although legal trapping for Newfoundland martens has been closed since 1934, the accidental mortality of these animals in snares still continues. Snares set for Snowshoe hares cause 92% of juvenile mortality and 58% of adult mortality in the marten. Other threats for Newfoundland martens also include diseases that can be spread by farmed mink or other mustelids, as well as diseases from domestic animals. There is also the potential impact of increasing predators including Red foxes, coyotes, and raptors, all of which will kill martens and compete for food and den sites.
According to Wikipedia resource, the total population size of the Newfoundland pine marten in 2007 was estimated to be between 286 and 556 mature individuals. THis subspecies is considered to be Threatened.
