Marten

Martens are mammals in Yellowstone National Park.

NPS

 

Marten track

Scientific Name

Martes americana

Identification

• 18–26 inches long, 1–3 pounds.
• Weasel family; short limbs and long bushy tail; fur varies from light to dark brown or black; irregular, buffy to bright orange throat patch.
• Smaller than a fisher; buffy or orange bib rather than white.
• Compare to long-tailed weasel and short-tailed weasel.

Habitat

• Found in conifer forests with understory of fallen logs and stumps; will use riparian areas, meadows, forest edges and rocky alpine areas.
• Eat primarily small mammals such as red- backed voles, red squirrels, snowshoe hares, flying squirrels, chipmunks, mice and shrews; also to a lesser extent birds and eggs, amphibians and reptiles, earthworms, insects, fruit, berries, and carrion.

Behavior

• Solitary except in breeding season (July and August); delayed implantation; 1–5 young born in mid-March to late April.
• Active throughout the year; hunts mostly on the ground.
• Rest or den in hollow trees or stumps, in ground burrows or rock piles, in excavations under tree roots.