This
site was established to help all those who wish to learn
more about the plight of the Newfoundland marten. In
particular, this site will assist students and marten
researchers. The marten is referred to in published
literature as american marten (martes americana). The
native Newfoundland marten is considered a subspecies,
martes americana atrata, of the marten found elsewhere
throughout North America. One reason for this is the
geographical isolation since the last ice age, 8 to
10 thousand years ago. Newfoundland is an island in
the Atlantic ocean, off Canada's East coast. The distance
to the mainland of Canada is too great for marten to cross.
Therefore, a unique marten gene pool now exists on the
Island portion of the province of Newfoundland and
Labrador, Canada. During the early 1900s marten occupied
most of the boreal forest of central and western
Newfoundland. Today, marten are found in sub populations in
western and central Newfoundland, with the main
concentration near Grand Lake/Red Indian Lake. A healthy
population exist in Labrador. The marten was given the
status of "Threatened" by the Committee On the Status
of Endangered Wildlife In Canada (COSEWIC) in April, 2007. A Marten
Recovery Team, representing government departments,
industry and non government organizations has been
established to develop a recovery strategy. The National
Recovery Plan for Newfoundland Marten can be viewed by
clicking here.
