This information is from the latest Marten Brochure, issued by Wildlife Division, Department of Environment and Conservation. You can get a brochure by contacting Wildlife Division at (709)637-2008
(I have eliminated most of the graphics from the brochure to make it better for printing.)
If you would like to save a copy of the brochure, I have converted it into a pdf file for you: Marten Brochure PDF.
A one page leaflet on marten facts, published by the provincial Wildlife Division, can be downloaded by clicking here.
A Vanishing Animal
" When the
last individual of a race of living things breathes no
more, another heaven and another earth must pass before
such a one can be again."
William
Beebe, Scientist
DID
YOU KNOW?
That
threatened means: Any
native species of plant or animal that might become
endangered unless people help it survive.
That
endangered means: Any
native species of plant or animal that might become
eliminated throughout all or a significant portion of its
range due to human action.
That the list of threatened and endangered species is
compiled by COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered
Wildlife in Canada) and includes mammals, plants, reptiles,
amphibians, fish and plants.
GENERAL
DESCRIPTION
Few people have ever seen an American marten (locally known
as the pine marten or marten cat) on the island of
Newfoundland. This is because there are very few left to be
seen. The species was listed as threatened in 1986, and
endangered in 1996 due to declining numbers. It is
estimated that about 300 remain on the Island.
About the size of a small housecat, the marten has a long,
slender body, a small head with a short, pointed muzzle,
large rounded ears and dark brown eyes. Dark brown fur, a
paler head and yellowish-orange patch on the throat and
chest distinguish the marten from others in the mink/weasel
family. In summer the marten's coat becomes lighter as it
sheds its winter fur. New fur growth begins in late summer
and is completed by late October. Its legs are short, but
the feet are large and furred, complete with sharp claws
that help the marten climb trees. Males have an average
length of 50 to 63 cm (20 to 25 in.) including a 17 cm (7
in.) tail. Their average weight is 1100 g. (2.4 lb.).
Females average 46 to 56 cm (18 to 22 ins) including a 15
cm (6 in) tail. The average weight is 750 g (1.6 lb.).
The marten is part of the Mustelid family that includes
wolverine, otter, skunk, mink and weasel. Both sexes have
two types of scent glands: the anal gland, located under
the tail, and the abdominal gland, found under the skin of
the belly. Marten drag their bellies over logs and
vegetation using the abdominal gland to mark their
territories.
Native to the Island, marten have probably resided here
since the last glaciations over 10,000 years ago. Our
Island geography has meant that the gene pool has been
isolated. This has probably resulted in a race of marten
not found anywhere else in the world.
There is some debate as to whether the island population is
a separate subspecies. Studies on skulls and DNA are
currently underway to try to resolve this debate. As the
debate continues, one thing is certain; the loss of the
Newfoundland marten would represent a loss of genetic
diversity, which would further reduce the biodiversity of
Canadian fauna (animal life).
THE
CONTINUING DECLINE
Historical references to marten were reported from most
parts of the island and date back to at least 1795. In 1830
to the 1840's, hundreds of pelts were being shipped
annually from the island. The major factors contributing to
their early decline include habitat loss and over-trapping.
Their keen sense of smell and great curiosity allowed
trappers to take them regularly until declining numbers
resulted in the permanent closure of the trapping season in
1934.
In an effort to help marten expand to new areas, they were
introduced to Main River in 1976 and 1978, to LaPoile River
Valley and Sceviour Island in 1975, and to Notre Dame Bay
in 1976 and Terra Nova National Park (TNNP) in
1982,1983,1998 and 1999. It appears that most of these
introductions were unsuccessful. The introduction to Main
River and TNNP may have been the exceptions.
DID
YOU KNOW?
•
The most important prey of the Nfld. pine marten is the
meadow vole, the only small rodent native to the Island.
Snow insulates and protects small animals like the voles
from sub-zero temperatures. A cold winter with little snow
cover can kill voles resulting in a decrease in the already
jeopardized marten population.
•
In Newfoundland, the natural predators of marten include
lynx, great horned and hawk owls and red fox.
PRESENT STATUS
In
Canada, marten are no longer found on Prince Edward Island,
or in the developed areas of southern Ontario and Quebec.
In Nova Scotia, where numbers are low, they are completely
protected. Elsewhere in Canada, there are enough marten to
allow controlled trapping. In the United States, they can
be found in Maine, New England States, the Great Lakes
states, in some western states, and as far south as
Northern New Mexico and central California. In Labrador,
marten are found in most forested areas, where they are
trapped for their pelt. On the island of Newfoundland, they
are found in areas surrounding Little Grand Lake, Red
Indian Lake and Main River on the west coast. On the east
coast, there is a small population in Terra Nova National
Park area.
In the early 1980s, it was estimated by the Provincial
Wildlife Division that there were between 630 and 875
marten on the island. Recent data indicate that there are
now about 300 marten on the Island. However, marten are
still common in Labrador.
The above map shows the current distribution of
Newfoundland marten. The highest concentration is in the
lower portion of the shaded area near Little Grand Lake and
Red Indian Lakes.
HABITAT
Marten appear to prefer habitat with a structure associated
with an over-mature forest. There they find older trees
with a number of dying or dead trees scattered on the
forest floor, or leaning on other trees. They appear to
prefer thick shady woods with a dense canopy and may avoid
large openings or clearings. For denning and nesting sites,
marten use hollow trees, stumps, logs and rock crevices.
In its first year, a young marten may travel long distances
searching for a place to call its own. Once found, the
established territory is defended against other marten of
the same sex. In good habitat, when food is plentiful and
easily found, a female may have a territory approximately
15 sq. kms., while a male may have an area double that of
females.
DID
YOU KNOW?
•
Most rabbit snares are now made of stainless steel, which
does not corrode. Left in the forest after the season
closes, they continue to kill marten.
•
The world commission on the Environment called on all
nations to strive to protect at least 10% of their natural
environment.
FOOD
Marten are carnivores, or meat-eaters, whose main foods are
small animals such as meadow voles, shrews, snowshoe hare,
red squirrel and birds. They also feed on berries, bird
eggs, insects and carrion when available. Marten hunt
during both at night and day, and will rest in trees or
dens. They do most of their hunting on the ground, but are
agile tree climbers. Marten stay active all winter. They
hunt small mammals under the snow by using natural crevices
around stumps or fallen trees. When the forest is
clear-cut, the snow layers change, eliminating the natural
avenues to their winter food source.
BREEDING
BIOLOGY
Marten reach adult size at about three and one half months
of age. Females are usually over two years old before they
have their first litter. Generally loners, they come
together only briefly during the mid-summer breeding
season, often mating with several partners. Birth occurs
220-276 days after fertilization. For most of that time,
the egg is in a resting state, know as delayed
implantation. The active pregnancy lasts only about one
month.
The kits are born in March/April, weigh about one ounce and
for the first two to three weeks they are blind, deaf and
naked. The mother's den usually consists of an underground
crevice or cavity. Sometimes, marten will take over a
squirrel's nest or even use a woodpecker's nest in an old
snag tree.
RESEARCH
AND MANAGEMENT
The Inland Fish and Wildlife Division established a Marten
Study Area in 1973 around Little Grand Lake on the western
portion of the Island to protect marten from accidental
snaring and trapping. In 1999 the Government of
Newfoundland and Labrador announced its intention to
protect the habitat in the area by establishing a system of
reserves, which now includes Glover Island. All trapping
(except for beaver) and snaring is prohibited in the area
to protect marten from accidental capture. Within this
area, studies are being conducted to learn more about the
marten's food habits, reproduction, age structure, habitat
choice and overall health.
Outside protected areas, marten often get caught in rabbit
snares and other traps. These snares and traps often result
in death for the marten. In several areas where marten are
trying to recover, the use of modified rabbit snares and
modified traps is mandatory. The modified rabbit snare will
snare rabbits and allow marten to escape. The modified trap
is also designed not to capture marten.
The Inland Fish and Wildlife Division, in cooperation with
the Canadian Forestry Service, Corner Brook Pulp and Paper,
Abitibi Consolidated and Western Newfoundland Model Forest
is currently funding projects that will provide answers to
help marten. One of these projects is a 5 year study, the
largest marten project ever conducted in Newfoundland, and
involves the Little Grand and Red Indian Lake populations.
The results from this project will provide needed
information on issues such as home range sizes, impacts of
trapping and snaring, and the habitat needs of the
Newfoundland marten.
Since the re-introduction of eight marten in the early
1980's, Terra Nova National Park has been involved in
studying marten. Since 1996 Terra Nova National Park has
been working in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund
and the Inland Fish and Wildlife Division. Marten have been
successfully live-trapped in the park. These marten were
outfitted with radio-collars and monitored in an effort to
determine the size and distribution of their home ranges
and preferred forest types. Evidence of breeding success
has been determined from this monitoring effort.
Despite live-trapping effort in and outside of the Park,
all trapped marten were from within the national park. The
home ranges of these marten fall almost entirely within the
park boundaries. The fact that no marten were trapped
outside the park, illustrates the value of protection to
the Newfoundland marten. In order to establish a healthy
population of marten in this region of eastern
Newfoundland, it may be wise to extend management of marten
beyond the park.
MARTEN
RECOVERY PLAN
A Newfoundland Marten Recovery Team is in place. The team's
goal is to develop and monitor the implementation of a plan
which will restore the marten population to a point where
it is no longer considered in danger of extinction. Some of
the issues dealt with include habitat requirements and
protection, accidental snaring and trapping and captive
breeding. In 1995, as part of the recovery plan, a
Newfoundland marten breeding program began at Salmonier
Nature Park. Four females and two males were taken in the
vicinity of Red Indian Lake in September of that year to be
used as breeding stock. In April of 1996, three litters
totalling seven young were born to these wild-mated
females. There were no additional litters produced in 1997
or 1998. In 1999 the first captive bred marten litter was
born at Salmonier Nature Park. It is anticipated that any
young born at the Park will be used to re-populate suitable
unoccupied marten habitat or will be recruited to the
captive breeding program. Additional animals have been
added to augment the breeding program.
DID
YOU KNOW?
•
Worldwide loss of habitat (not poaching or hunting) is the
largest contributing factor to the loss of wildlife. Other
causes include: environmental pollution, disruption of
migration routes and breeding behaviors, and illegal trade
of protected animals and animal parts.
SOMETHING
TO THINK ABOUT
Habitat loss, rabbit snares, accidental trapping, disease,
and the possible scarcity of food are all thought to hinder
marten recovery. Habitat which is a key component to the
survival and recovery of the marten must be taken into
consideration and sufficiently protected when planning and
carrying out wood harvesting operations in areas frequented
by marten or in areas slotted for their recovery. Suitable
forested areas need to be reserved as marten refuges, and
additional areas need to be managed to ensure that
components of mature forest are always available at a
landscape level.
The accidental capture of marten in traps and snares set
for other animals may be limiting their expansion into
other areas. For example, of the six wild marten captured
for the breeding program at Salmonier Nature Park, two had
rabbit snares embedded on their bodies. One died as a
result of the embedded snare. Of the six live trapped at
Terra Nova National Park, two had snare wire marks on their
abdomens. In 1998 two radio-collared marten died in Terra
Nova area. One death was confirmed due to a rabbit snare;
the cause has not been determined for the second case.
Newfoundlanders have a unique opportunity to manage the
forest for the long term sustainability of all species,
including the marten. The marten is one of only fourteen
mammals that are native to Newfoundland. By comparison,
Nova Scotia has forty land mammals. We must ensure that
future generations have a chance to know this unique little
mammal of the Newfoundland forest.
On a global scale, our challenge is to find room on our
beautiful planet for all living creatures, as all creatures
are needed to help keep our planet healthy.
* Learn about the Newfoundland pine marten.
* Inform others about the marten's plight.
* If you use modified snares, check them daily, and remove them at the end of the season.
* Save trees and marten habitat by not wasting paper and by reusing and then recycling paper.
* Join a local wildlife, natural history or conservation group.
* Write letters to public officials, let them know that protecting endangered species is important to you.
* Report any accidentally trapped marten to your nearest conservation official.
| WHAT YOU CAN DO: |
Text by Lucy O'Driscoll, Illustrated by Ralph Jarvis.