Like all weasels, the marten is an awesome predator for it's size. Other animals make up approximately 80% of its diet, including voles, mice, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits and hares; also birds, fruits, insects, carrion, frogs, salamanders, snakes and fish. Martens are the most arboreal member of the weasel family, spending a great deal of time in the trees. They have semi-retractable claws to assist in tree climbing. They are active in winter and will spend more time on the ground, tunneling in the snow after their food. They prefer to live among mature coniferous trees, although where humans have disturbed their natural habitat, they can be found in cut-overs, logging camps, picnic sites and dumps. |
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Martens are solitary, except in breeding season in the fall and when the females are raising the young. She will have her young in the spring after a 220 -275 day gestation, including a period of delayed implantation. Her 1-5 (usually 3 or 4) young will reach maturity at 15-24 months. Humans (loggers and trappers) are a major predator of the marten; other predators are the fisher, wolf, lynx, bobcat, coyote and the great horned owl. |
