After 100 years American Marten may return to Pennsylvania
By Bees O’Brien
SPROUL STATE FOREST, PA- In the winter of 1994 in the Fish Dam Wild Area of Noyes Township the beginning of a fisher reintroduction program had begun in Pennsylvania. A total of 190 of the largest member of the weasel family were released at 6 different sites in the commonwealth between the original 1994 release date until 1998. Now the Pennsylvania Game Commission is looking to have success with the fisher’s smaller cousin, the American Marten.
The American Marten, or pine marten is a small 1-3 pound species of the weasel family and was once prominent until populations took a hit due to trapping and deforestation. Some old time outdoorsmen in the area have claimed to see martens frequent the Sproul State Forest up until recently. None of these claims have ever been proven to be true, but the same was said of the fisher. Those claims had been proven to be true, a huge reason why that project was given the greenlight in the mid 1990’s.
When plans of a predatory species being reintroduced comes to light, uproar almost always follows. The fear that these tiny squirrel sized hunters will devour every game animal in sight is truly insane. Education on these furry little creatures can go a long way.
Marten’s primary diet consists mainly of small rodent such as mice, voles and shrews. They will occasionally hunt small birds, rabbits, reptiles and amphibians. They’ll very rarely take on an animal that could cause it harm or be more trouble than it is worth. Calories are too valuable when you’re on the constant move and weigh a couple pounds. They will back down from gray squirrels, which outweigh them.
The summer months will see the marten enjoy berries and other seasonal crops.
Do to their highly sought after fur, every state and national trapping organization is backing the potential Pennsylvania reintroduction.
Candidate locations in Clinton County could be the previously used fisher site at Fish Dam and there’s been talk of possibly using the Hammersley Natural Area in Leidy Township.
Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, New York, New Hampshire and Vermont have all reintroduced martens with success. The Pennsylvania release candidates will more than likely come from one of these states with New York being the front running donor. Maine could also be a candidate, as they’ve managed to maintain their Marten population over the course of time.
The Game Commission could possibly finalize their reintroduction campaign with a vote as early as September of this year.
