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Marten
Martes americana
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Other Common Names
Pine Marten
Habitat
Lives in conifer-dominated forests with dense shrubs in western and northern Maine. An agile climber, the marten prefers to den in tree cavities.
Diet
Marten are primarily carnivorous with a diet that consists of voles, squirrels, birds, and insects, but they also take advantage of fruits, nuts, and berries. Beechnuts are especially favored by marten.
Distinctive Characteristics
Sleek and small (about the size of a house cat), with long, dense brown fur, darker legs, a bushy tail, and a pale, almost white face.
Nocturnal/Diurnal
Mostly nocturnal, the marten is more active at night.
Reproduction & Family Structure
Breeding takes place June through August, with 7 to 8 months of delayed egg implantation. Young are born in March and April.