American Marten

The American Marten lives in coniferous and mixed forests in Alaska, Canada, the Pacific Northwest, the Rocky Mountains, and New England.  Trapping and destruction of forest habitat have reduced its numbers, but it is still more abundant than the larger Fisher, although "threatened" in parts of North America.

Compared to other carnivores, though, American Marten population density is low for their body size.  Regionally, the American Marten may be nocturnal or diurnal. Variability in daily activity patterns depends on the type, number, and activity of major prey species. Its activity patterns also vary by regional weather with greater activity in the summer rather than in winter. Snow is an important habitat feature in many parts of the range of the American Marten, providing thermal protection and opportunities for foraging and resting. It may travel extensively under the snowpack.  They are well adapted to snow. They can navigate through deep snow regardless of depth, with tracks rarely sinking more than 2 inches into the snowpack. American Marten are opportunistic predators, influenced by local and seasonal abundance and availability of potential prey. Voles dominate diets though larger prey—particularly snowshoe hares—may be important, particularly in winter. In general, diet is more diverse in summer than winter, with summer diets containing more fruit, other vegetation, and insects.  American marten are vulnerable to predation from raptors and other carnivores. 

The first three photos are from a series I took during the summer while in Wells Gray Wildlife Area in British Columbia. As you can see I was very close. He had just caught a squirrel but dropped it when I came along. I knew that if I stayed long enough he would come back for it. He did. And, I got some nice photos. The last photo was taken during the winter when I was looking for Moose in Northwestern Colorado. I had actually found this wonderful Bull Moose in a meadow and was photographing it when I spotted the Marten behind me. What a pleasant surprise that was. He was a little further away, and because the snow was about two feet deep I wasn't able to move quick enough to get more (or better photos).