American Marten

(Martes americana)

Conservation  •  Description  •  Habitat  •  Ecology  •  Distribution  •  Taxonomy

Conservation Status
American Marten
Photo by Laurie Wachholz
IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

  
NatureServe

N5 - Secure

S4S5 - Apparently Secure to Secure

  
Minnesota

not listed

  
     
     
     
     
     
     

Description

The fur (pelage) is long, thick, and yellowish-brown on the body, shading into dark brown to blackish on the legs and tail. The belly is paler. There is a buff to orangish-yellow patch on the throat and breast. The head is usually lighter in color.

Females are smaller than males.

Size

Total length: 14″ to 17″

Tail: 7″ to 9″

Sign

 

Similar Species

 

Habitat

Both young and old deciduous and coniferous forests

Ecology

Behavior

 

Lifespan

Up to 17 years in captivity, less in the wild

Life Cycle

 

Food

 

Distribution

Distribution Map

  

Sources

24, 29, 30.

Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu, 12/7/2025).

Hazard, Evan B. 1982. The Mammals of Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 280 pp.

The counties in light green lack modern records but have historic county or township specimens or records.
12/7/2025  
   
     

Occurrence

Increasingly common in northern Minnesota

Taxonomy

Class

Mammalia (Mammals)

Subclass

Theria

Infraclass

Placentalia (Placental Mammals)

Magnorder

Boreoeutheria

Superorder

Laurasiatheria (Ungulates, Carnivorans, and Allies)

Order

Carnivora (Carnivorans)

Suborder

Caniformia (Dog-like Carnivores)

Infraorder

Arctoidea

Parvorder

Mustelida

Family

Mustelidae (Mustelids)

Subfamily

Guloninae (Wolverines, Martens, and Tayras)

Genus

Martes (Martens)

Subgenus

Martes

Subordinate Taxa

Alaska Marten (Martes americana actuosa)

American Marten (Martes americana vulpina)

British Columbia Marten (Martes americana abietinoides)

Eastern American pine Marten (Martes americana americana)

Hudson Bay Marten (Martes americana abieticola)

Humboldt Marten (Martes americana humboldtensis)

Kenai Peninsula Marten (Martes americana kenaiensis)

Newfoundland pine Marten (Martes americana atrata)

North Labrador Marten (Martes americana brumalis)

Pacific Marten (Martes americana caurina)

Queen Charlotte Marten (Martes americana nesophila)

Rocky Mountain Marten (Martes americana origensis)

Vancouver Island Marten (Martes americana vancouverensis)

Western Marten (Martes americana sierrae)

Synonyms

Mustela americanus

Common Names

American Marten

Pine Marten

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Pelage

The coat of a mammal, consisting of fur, wool, or hair, and including a soft undercoat and stiff guard hairs.

 

 

Visitor Photos

Share your photo of this mammal.

This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption.

Laurie Wachholz
American Marten

MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos

     
   

 

 

Camera

 

Slideshows

Pine Marten 2
Chas Moonie

Pine Marten Family
David Geddes

About

These images represent two short and steep learning curves.

The first was realising and understanding a little of the Pine Marten family that frequent our garden almost entirely at night.

The second is the adaptation and continual review of camera settings, night time lighting, and the habitat scenario.

Eventually the Martens were being photographed in some intimacy from 1.5 metres distance from inside our kitchen or sunroom.

This is a fascinating work in progress.

 

slideshow

 

Visitor Videos

Share your video of this mammal.

This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link.

Karla

American Marten 01
Jun 19, 2023

About

American Marten (Martes americana)
West Lakeland Township, MN
6/19/2023
Video by Karla

Other Videos

The Pine Marten is Nature's Most Adorable Assassin!
Brave Wilderness

About

Published on Dec 23, 2014

Please SUBSCRIBE NOW! http://bit.ly/BWchannel

Coyote Peterson claims the ability to climb trees like a cat, but is he nimble enough to follow a lightning quick Pine Marten all the way to the top? Without a doubt it’s going to be a tricky climb up but really it’s the getting down that’s going to be the challenge! Check out this episode and see one of nature’s most adorable assassin’s in it’s natural environment - the Pine Marten in the high canopy’s of Montana!

Breaking Trail leaves the map behind and follows adventurer and animal enthusiast Coyote Peterson and his crew as they explore a variety of wildlife in the most amazing environments throughout North America!

Watch More Breaking Trail: https://www.animalist.com/breakingtrail

Subscribe Now! https://www.youtube.com/user/BreakingTrail

Find more info at: https://www.CoyotePeterson.com

Coyote Peterson on Twitter: https://twitter.com/COYOTEPETERSON

Coyote Peterson on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoyotePeterson

https://plus.google.com/+CoyotePeterson

Animal Spotlight: American Marten
Hersheypark

About

Published on Jan 28, 2015

For more information visit: http://www.zooamerica.com/animals/?id=57

American Pine Marten raids bird feeder in Canmore, Alberta, Canada
e2mwpg

About

Published on Feb 23, 2017

A bandit so cute you can forgive him/her for stealing from the local mountain chickadee and pine grosbeak population. While cuddling the American Pine Marten, always mind the large canine teeth and razor sharp claws.

 

Camcorder

Visitor Sightings

Report a sighting of this mammal.

This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Be sure to include a location.

Karla
6/19/2023

American Marten

Location: West Lakeland Township (Washington County), MN

Nancy Fulliam
8/23/2019

Location: St. Paul

I sure I've been a seeing a marten in St. Paul east side Johnson Pkwy and 3rd St. towards Mounds Park

I'm sure of it

Minnesota Seasons Sightings

 

 

 

Binoculars