American marten

(Martes americana)

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, 76.

 
  6/19/2023      
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Increasingly common in northern Minnesota

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Class Mammalia (mammals)  
  Subclass Theria  
  Infraclass Eutheria (placental mammals)  
  Magnorder Boreoeutheria  
  Superorder Laurasiatheria (ungulates, carnivorans, and allies)  
  Order Carnivora (carnivorans)  
  Suborder Caniformia (dog-like carnivores)  
 

Family

Mustelidae (weasel, mink, badger, martens and others)  
 

Subfamily

Guloninae (wolverines, martens, and tayras)  
 

Genus

Martes (martens)  
       
 

Recent DNA studies have suggested that the traditional arrangement of family Mustelidae into two subfamilies based on morphological differences is invalid. Under this arrangement, the subfamily Mustelinae is polyphyletic (derived from more than one evolutionary ancestor.) Two molecular phylogenetic analyses in Sato et al (2004) and Koepfli et al (2008) suggest separating the family into eight subfamilies. Under this scheme, martens are placed in the subfamily Martinae. This suggestion has not been widely adopted.

 
       
 

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)

farthest north marten (Martes americana boria)

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.

 
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Laurie Wachholz

 
    American marten      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

 

 
           

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
  Pine Marten 2
Chas Moonie
 
  Pine Marten 2  
  Pine Marten Family
David Geddes
 
  Pine Marten Family  
 
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.

 
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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.

 
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Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Be sure to include a location.
 
  Karla
6/19/2023

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

 
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

 

 

 

 

Binoculars


Created: 2/18/2018

Last Updated:

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