American Marten (Martes americana), a State Endangered mammal, lives in mature, structurally complex conifer forests, mixed conifer-hardwood, and hardwood-dominated forests, that often include large (>20" dbh) hemlock, white pine, red pine, yellow birch, sugar maple, basswood, and/or white cedar. It tends to avoid aspen, lowland spruce/tamarack, red pine plantations, jack pine, oak, paper birch, and non-forested stands. Large amounts of downed wood and the presence of trees with cavities are especially important features of suitable habitat. Marten remain on their home ranges year-round, with more restricted habitat use in the winter. They are highly reliant on snow cover (the 'subnivean') for hunting and rest sites during the winter months. Den sites, used for raising young, called kits, are usually in cavities of large (>20" dbh) live or dead trees, while winter resting sites are often under the snow in root mounds or other downed wood. Young are born in late-March and April and are dependent on their mothers from from birth until ~May 31. See the species guidance document to limit incidental take of American Martens from trapping from the Wisconsin Trappers Association, Wisconsin Conservation Congress, and the Wisconsin DNR.
