Pine Marten Captive Breeding
Project Overview

The Newfoundland Marten is listed as endangered by COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife Canada). Unlike the healthy marten population found in Labrador, the Island population is thought to be a unique subspecies. Current population estimates for Newfoundland Marten are between 300 - 500 animals. In 1995, the National Recovery Plan for Newfoundland Marten (1995) identified a series of initiatives to assist in the population recovery of this species. One of these initiatives included the establishment of a captive breeding facility at Salmonier Nature Park, and of is left out of the goals of the project. The short term objectives of this program are to establish the necessary protocols and husbandry to successfully and consistently breed Newfoundland Marten in captivity . One of the primary long term goals of the project is that this initial research can ultimately lead to the introduction of captive Newfoundland Marten back into the wild. The updates contained hereafter provide an abbreviated yet very technical history of the Pine Marten Captive Breeding Project over the last four years. For additional information on this project,  please contact  Salmonier Nature Park.