American Marten

The American Marten can be found throughout Canada. A male can have a territory as large as 7.8 square km, while 2.6 for the female. The male will cover its territory in 8-10 days, hunting along the way. Defending it against another male, but they will be more tolerant of females. Being part of the weasel family, martens have the same typical body shape, long and slender as other Mustelidae. Their diet consists of small mammals, but will also eat fruits, nuts, insects, carrion and birds. I just recently came across what was left of a waterfowl that was eating underneath the car’s hood. Even with their small size, they are tough like other members of their family.  They will go after larger mammals, like snowshoe hares and marmots.

If spotted by birds, they will alert others. In the case of the Black-billed Magpies, they will mob it until the marten has left the area. Witness this a few times. It can be entertaining to watch. Before I saw this one, I heard an agitated red squirrel and a Song Sparrow. I was trying to figure out what was going on, when I heard a sound above my head. I looked up and saw this marten perched on a branch like a cougar. When it feels threatened, as it did when I arrived on the scene, it will climb up a tree for its safety. Once it feels safe, it will either come down and run away or go back to what it was doing.

American Marten

Woodpeckers excavate their own nest holes, it takes about two weeks before the cavities are ready for nesting. Most will use softwoods like aspens, others will use hardwood trees that have been affected by fungal disease, softening the wood. This is also the way the woodpeckers can carry the spores to other trees, helping them become home to future woodpeckers. Most woodpeckers will build a new nest every year, providing opportunities for various other birds and mammals to use the abandoned cavities as nests or dens. This American Marten was doing was using an old Pileated Woodpecker created cavity as a den over spring. 

American Marten

After spending a lot of time outdoors, you become good at guessing what sounds are made by what, well most of the time. I don’t jump when I hear a sound in the forest, my mind is too busy trying to guess what’s making the sound. Number of years ago I was out taking pictures of the northern lights middle of the light. Standing on my own, I started to hear something moving in the willows behind me. By the sounds being made with each step, it was a mid to large size mammal. After yelling toward the shrubs, I decided enough was enough and left the area. The next morning, I went to the same area and saw bear tracks through the shrubs, I thought at that time it was probably just curious. A few months ago while trying to get a good picture of a bird, I could hear a small animal moving behind me. I looked back and on a fallen tree behind me was an American marten, looking right at me. It was so close I could not even get it all in the frame, got a couple of pictures before it scurried away.

American Marten

Unlike human, wildlife always has to be at their peak. They are always being challenged by the environment, by members of their own species for food, territory and for mates. Competition from other species for food and territory and depending on where they fall on the food chain, they always have to be two steps ahead of becoming someone’s meal. Unless they are on the top part of the food chain, they can't over eat and became an easy prey. When it gets dark, the species that stay active, it's even more important to stay healthy. That leads me to this American marten I came across with a damaged left eye that has turned green and is shrinking. Being out there middle of the wilderness, every day it survives with one eye, it's overcoming extreme odds against nature.

American Marten

The american marten went up the tree when I came across it, a way it protects itself. Once realizing there was no danger, it came down to the ground and ran away.

American Marten

If you happen to  surprise a American marten, one of three things can happen. It may just stay there and watch you, run away or it may climb a tree. They are very good climbers and it's a great way to get away from the predators. In this case the marten went up a pine tree. I stayed put as it effortlessly climbed and looked toward me. Once it was certain that I was not coming any closer, it slowly came down and again kept looking toward me. One reaching the ground it then ran away. 

Until next moment, 
Amar

American Marten

The American marten is active year around, with the tracks I come across on the snow, one would think they would be more often spotted. They are always busy, always curious searching for food. This one was travelling by, when it saw me it climbed up a tree for safety. Once I moved on, it came back down and was on its way.

Until next moment,

Amar

American Marten

I came across this very cute american marten who was searching through pile of fallen leaves. With its colouring and particularly the orange on its chest helped the marten blend in with its surroundings.

Until next moment,

Amar

American Marten

On February the 4th I'll be going over my 2014 adventures with a slideshow presentation. Sharing some of my favourite pictures from last year and the stories that go along with them. So if you are free that evening, please join us at the birthplace of our national parks, Cave and Basin NHS from 7 to 9pm.

Until next moment, 

Amar

American Marten

It's pretty easy to find out if there are American Marten in the area in the winter, their tracks are hard to hide in the snow. But coming across one is less likely and getting a half decent picture of them even less. We first saw this marten cross a side road, then I quickly spotted it up a tree. If you give them space, they will provided plenty of photo opportunity as they make their way down to the ground and continue their journey  looking for food.

Until next moment,

Amar

American Marten

The American marten, a North American member of the Mustelidae (the weasel family).  Sometime it's referred to as a pine marten, a name which came about from the slightly different Eurasian species of Martes. The Mustelidae family includes the very small  least weasels to the very large giant otters. The martens are entertaining to watch year around, this one was hanging out on a branch, keeping its eyes on me. More then likely it saw me first and made its way up the tree for safety. As much as I wanted to hang out and watch it, I'm sure it was hoping I would make my way so it could come down the tree and carry on with its business. I moved on.

Until next moment,

Amar

American Marten

The American Marten saw me coming and decided to climb a tree for saftey. I quickly moved to my side to get a clear view and was able to take its picture scurrying up the tree.

Until next moment,

Amar

American Marten

The Pine Marten  saw me walking toward it, it makes its way up the tree for safety. Giving me a look and moving up further, repeats this until it feels safe. Then surrounded by branches and witch's broom it watches me.

Until next moment,

Amar