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The Marten |
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| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Carnivora |
| Family | Mustekidae |
| Genus | Martes |
| Species | Martes americana |
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Kimmy's Mammal Web Page |
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The Marten |
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| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Carnivora |
| Family | Mustekidae |
| Genus | Martes |
| Species | Martes americana |
| The Marten is a member of the weasel family. It has a slender body, short arms, and claws that are very useful for climbing. It has a bushy tail, a flat head, a sharp nose, long ears and black eyes. It has soft fur that is a yellowish-brown color. It is a dark brown on the tail and legs, and lighter on the belly. |
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Habitat |
| Martens enjoy mature coniferous forests, especially if dominated by spruce or fir. They are found in other forests only if their is enough food and cover for them. Their habitat needs to include undergrowth and fallen down trees for dens, under-snow spaces for winter hunting, and a suitable habitat for their prey. Most of the time they avoid open clearings. However, in the summer they sometimes hunt in them. |
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Range |
| The marten ranges from most of Canada, west to California, and east to New England and New York. Martens have been removed from their homes in parts of Southern Canada due to loss of habitat and over-harvest. |
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| Martens are omnivores meaning they eat all kinds of food. Their favorite food is the red-backed vole. Besides the vole, marten eats anything they can catch, such as, deer mice, field voles, varying hare, grouse, squirrels, shrews, bird's eggs, and amphibians. They also eat all kinds of berries, mostly raspberries and blueberries. |
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Life Cycle |
| Martens gestation period is eight to nine months. When they are born, they weigh 30g, blind, and are covered with very fine fur. The mother nurses them into the summer. By the time they are two years old, they are ready to mate. The marten lives from ten to fifteen years. |
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| Important factors for the marten's survival are it's habitat which provides cover for rodents, the marten's main source of food. They haave long fur to keep them warm through the winter months. The marten's main enemy is the human. Humans have destroyed much of their habitat. This has made them an endangered species in some places because they can not live without a good habitat. |
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| 1. Males and females only associate in July and August. 2. Martens are excellent swimmers. 3. This species has been eliminated in many areas due to hunting. 4. The marten's fur in very valuable. |
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| Humans are the main enemy of the marten. Humans trap them for their fur, and the lumber that we cut down destroys their habitat and reduces populations. However, humans can help martens by protecting their habitat. This support has helped them make a come back. I think that humans have had a bad effect on the marten. |
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