DID YOU KNOW?
In Newfoundland,
the natural predator
of marten include
lynx, great horned
and hawk owls
and red fox. 
Great Horned Owl
DID YOU KNOW?
Most rabbit snares
are now made of
stainless steel,
which does not corrode. Left in the forest after the
season closes, they continue to kill marten.
Rabbit
DID YOU KNOW?
The World Commission on the Environment called
on all nations to
strive to protect at least 10% of their natural environment.
DID YOU KNOW?
Worldwide loss of
habitat (not poaching or hunting) is the
largest contributing
factor to the loss of
wildlife. Other
causes include:
environmental
pollution, disruption
of migration routes
and breeding
behaviors, human
disturbance, and
illegal trade of
protected animals
and animal parts. |
HABITAT
Marten prefer to live in undisturbed mature coniferous or mixed forest, with large
evergreens and scattered birch and other hardwood trees. Preferring thick shady woods with
a dense canopy, they usually avoid large openings or clearings. For denning and nesting
sites, marten use hollow trees, stumps and logs.
In its first year, a young marten may travel long distances searching for a place to call
its own. Once found, the established territory is defended against other marten. In good
habitat, when food is plentiful and easily found, a female may have a territory
approximately three to five sq. km., while a male may have an area double that of females.
FOOD
Marten are carnivores, or meat-eaters, whose main foods are small animals such as meadow
voles, shrews, snowshoe hare, red squirrel and birds. They will also feed on berries, bird
eggs, insects and carrion when available. Primarily night hunters, they spend much of the
day resting in trees or dens. They do most of their hunting on the ground, but are agile
tree climbers.
Marten stay active all winter. They hunt small mammals under the snow by using natural
crevices around stumps or fallen trees. When the forest is clear-cut, the snow layers
change and the natural avenues to their winter food sources are eliminated.
BREEDING BIOLOGY
Marten reach adult size at about three and one half months of age. Females are almost
three years old before they have their first litter. Generally loners, they come together
only briefly during the mid-summer breeding season, often mating with several partners.
Birth occurs 220-276 days after fertilization. For most of that time, the egg is in a
resting state, known as delayed implantation. The active pregnancy lasts only 27 days.
The kits are born in March or April, weigh approximately one ounce and are blind, deaf and
naked for the first two to three weeks. The mother's den usually consists of an
underground crevice or cavity. Sometimes, marten will take over a squirrel's nest or even
use a woodpecker's nest in an old snag tree. RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT
The Newfoundland and Labrador Wildlife Division established a Pine Marten Study Area in
1973 around Little Grand Lake on the western portion of the Island. Within the study area,
marten are protected, but their habitat is not. Nearly 60-70 percent of the prime habitat
has been cut over. Only a small area in the northeast section remains untouched as it did
when marten were more plentiful. All trapping (except for beaver) and snaring is
prohibited in the area to protect marten from accidental capture. Within this area,
studies are being conducted to learn more about the marten's food habits, reproduction,
age structure, ratio of males to females and overall health.
The Wildlife Division, in cooperation with the Western Newfoundland Model Forest and
university researchers, is studying the effects of logging on pine marten and their prey.
Computers are being used to predict changes in future populations and habitat. Studies are
also being done to find ways to improve habitat in areas not currently used by marten. For
instance, increasing the amount of large woody debris on the forest floor, may attract
marten by providing additional cover and den sites.
There has also been research on different ways to snare rabbits, but not snare marten.
Trappers are required to give any marten they accidentally catch to the Wildlife Division
for examination.
In an effort to help marten expand to new areas, they were introduced to Main River in
1976 and 1978, to LaPoile River Valley and Sceviour Island in 1975, and Notre Dame Bay in
1976. Most of these introductions were unsuccessful. The introduction to Main River may
have been the exception. Marten are there now, but we are not sure if they were there
prior to the introduction. In the early 1980s marten were introduced to Terra Nova
National Park. Although it is too early to judge, wildlife managers are optimistic that
this re-introduction will be a success.
A Newfoundland Pine Marten Recovery Team was established in 1990. The team's goal is to
develop and implement a plan to restore the marten population on the island portion of the
province, to a point where it is no longer considered threatened. Some of the issues
expected to be dealt with in the plan include habitat requirements and protection,
accidental snaring and captive breeding.
SOMETHING TO THINK
ABOUT
Logging, accidental trapping, disease, and a small prey base may be hindering marten
recovery. Marten have very specific habitat requirements. Habitat loss due to extensive
clear-cutting within their prime range is probably the main obstacle to recovery of marten
on the Island. In addition, the accidental capturing of marten in traps and snares set for
other animals, such as rabbits, mink, fox and lynx, may be limiting their spread into
other areas.
Habitat damage from logging must be minimized. Large areas of undisturbed, mature forest
need to be reserved as marten refuges, or at least managed to ensure that a component of
mature forest is always available.
Preserving some mature coniferous forest for marten may involve a conflict of values;
economics versus the environment. Newfoundlanders have a unique opportunity to conserve
the remaining old growth forests and the essential character of the land and its wildlife.
On the other hand, Newfoundland depends on industries such as forestry for its economic
base. If marten are to survive, we must find a way to balance these interests. Can the
future reflect a change in values where the health, well-being, and wealth of a society is
measured by the abundance and careful management of its natural resources? Future
decisions and public concern will determine the fate of our marten.
The pine marten is one of only fourteen mammals that are native to Newfoundland. We must
ensure that future generations have a chance to know this unique little mammal of the
Newfoundland forest.
THREATENED,
ENDANGERED, EXTINCTION... SO WHAT?
Does it really matter if we lose the pine marten in Newfoundland? Do we need them? It's
just one species, and there are plenty of others. This sort of thinking portrays an
attitude towards other living creatures in terms of "What can they do for me?"
If the answer is "I don't see any benefit", they become dispensable in the minds
and hearts of those who think that way. Is it not better to ask "Why are species
dying?" and "What can I do to make a difference?"
The natural world is like a pyramid made of blocks, with people standing boldly at the
top. Each block (or species) has a role to play in holding the pyramid up. If you remove a
few blocks, it probably won't make much difference. If you remove more, the pyramid will
begin to weaken. There is no way to tell which blocks, if they are removed, will cause the
entire pyramid to tumble down.
Scientists don't fully understand the complicated links between species and their
environment well enough to be able to predict exactly what might happen when we push
animals and plants to extinction. Saving species is really saving ourselves.
We cannot wait for an ark this time to save us from destruction and carry people and two
of every living creature to a fresh new world. The only world we have now is earth, and it
has its limits. But, we can make a difference. It's not too late. We must make a
difference, because the alternative is extinction, and extinction is forever.
|
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
