Joy to the Woods

A holiday hope for the Pine Marten’s return to Pennsylvania forests.

This month’s Local Wildlife Feature is a Christmas wish for the return of an adorable native furbearer, the American “Pine” Marten, which thrives in northern states and widely across Canada. Here in Pennsylvania, we trapped it to extinction by the early 1900s. Rampant deforestation further sealed its fate, until the 2010’s when the state’s Game Commission began restoring natural habitats, and reintroducing species that disappeared generations ago.

In April 2024, PA Game Commission outlined a 10-year strategy to “translocate” a number of American Pine Martens for long-term monitoring with the goal of future official reintroduction. Good news for their many admirers! Resembling a cross between a fox and a teddy bear, pine martens are models of extreme cuteness, but there are lots of other reasons to welcome these fascinating creatures back to our woodlands.

🐻 Meet the Marten 🐻

Imagine a creature so agile it practically dances through the trees, so fluffy it makes you question the limits of cuddliness, and so clever it can outwit a fox. Standing no taller than a loaf of bread and weighing less than your average housecat, the pine marten is the forest’s version of a mischievous elf. A member of the weasel family (related to ferrets, otters, and mink), it’s easily identified by its long, slender body, bushy tail, and luxurious fur that was once regrettably too desirable for its own good.

Its golden-brown coat, accented with a creamy bib on its chest, is a built-in tuxedo for forest festivities. But don’t be fooled by its formal attire —martens are woodland athletes. They leap, climb, and bound through forests, hunting small mammals like mice, voles, and squirrels. When they’re not snacking on critters, they’ll happily chow down on berries, nuts, or even insects, making them nature’s equivalent of a well-rounded eater.

Pine martens are the ultimate introverts of the forest, preferring to live solo lives except when raising kits or during the brief romance of mating season. Their homes are as versatile as they are, often tucked into tree hollows, abandoned woodpecker nests, or cozy crevices under fallen logs. True to their arboreal nature, martens spend much of their time in the trees, where they can travel for miles in the leafy canopy. But they’re equally comfortable prowling the forest floor in search of food or adventure.

Martens are born in spring, arriving as tiny, blind, and helpless kits no bigger than a candy bar. Within weeks, they start to explore their world, guided by their mother’s expert lessons in climbing, hunting, and avoiding predators. By the time summer rolls around, young martens are practically tree-hopping ninjas, ready to strike out on their own. These sprightly creatures can live up to 10 years in the wild if they avoid larger predators like foxes or birds of prey, making them long-term residents in any forest lucky enough to host them.

🧑‍⚖️ The Case for a Comeback 📚

So why martens?

For one, they’re excellent pest controllers. By feasting on rodents and small mammals, martens help keep ecosystems balanced. And as generalists, they’ll happily snack on fruits and seeds, playing a role in spreading plant life throughout the forest.

Martens are also an indicator species. Their presence signals a healthy, mature forest—one with the dense canopy, ample ground cover, and biodiversity needed to support these energetic creatures. Reintroducing martens isn’t just about bringing back a lost piece of Pennsylvania’s natural heritage; it’s also a commitment to conserving and restoring the ecosystems that all forest life depends on.

Finally, let’s face it: martens are just plain charming. There’s something magical about the idea of seeing one scamper across a snow-covered log, a living symbol of the resilient wilderness we’re working to preserve.

A Yuletide Wish 🥂❄️✨

This season, we raise a glass to the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s commitment to our furry friend, the pine marten. While the process of reintroduction is still in its early stages, the vision of martens darting through Pennsylvania’s forests fills us with hope and holiday cheer. May this adorable arboreal ambassador remind us what we can achieve when we work together, repairing the mistakes of the past.

🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️ What You Can Do: Learn more about the pine marten on the Game Commission’s website, and follow the PA Marten Restoration Project for the latest events and advocacy opportunities. And the more we can educate our communities, the better we can support conversation efforts. 🙏🙏🙏

🤓 A DOZEN FUN FACTS: PINE MARTENS 🤓

1. Pine martens are one of the most agile mammals in North American forests, thanks to their sharp claws and semi-retractable paws which allow them to leap from tree to tree with ease.
2. Martens rely on snow for winter survival, occupying the “subnivean zone” (the space between the ground and snow) to hunt small mammals, stay warm, and avoid predators.
3. The silky fur of a pine marten is not just beautiful; it’s also incredibly dense and warm. Known in the fur industry as Canadian or American “sable”, its popularity has been eclipsed by fox, mink, and chinchilla which are much easier and cheaper to farm.
4. A single marten can have a home range of 2 to 5 square miles, depending on food availability and habitat quality.
5. The word “marten” comes from the Latin martes, which shares roots with Mars, the Roman god of war. Their energetic and mischievous behavior lives up to their fiery namesake!
6. Although weighing only 1 – 3 pounds, martens are small but mighty hunters. They can take down prey larger than themselves, such as squirrels, snowshoe hares, and even adult birds like woodpeckers and grouse.
7. Martens aren’t the chattiest animals, but they make a range of sounds, including chirps, growls, and hisses. These vocalizations are usually reserved for mating season or when they feel threatened.
8. Despite their name, pine martens aren’t limited to pine forests. They thrive in diverse forest ecosystems, from boreal woods to mixed hardwoods, as long as there’s dense cover and plenty of prey.
9. Martens typically live about 6 to 10 years in the wild – much longer than other species in the weasel family. In captivity, they can live up to 14 years.
10. In many First Nation cultures, martens are admired for their intelligence and resourcefulness. Among the Cree and Innu peoples, martens are considered guardians of the forest and symbols of stealth and independence.
11. For superstitious hunters, spotting a marten is often considered a good omen for finding game.
12. Efforts to reintroduce martens have already been successful in other states like Michigan and Wisconsin. With a little luck, Pennsylvania could be the next chapter in this comeback tale!

Thoughts? Comments? Please leave them below. If you enjoyed this Local wildlife feature, please check out last month’s on the Wild Turkey’s local historic and ecological impact.