The American Marten, Martes americana, is a North American marten sometimes also called the Pine Marten, even though it is a separate species from the European Pine Marten. Some sources believe that the population found in the western United States should be considered a distinct species, Martes caurina.
It lives in mature coniferous or mixed forests in Alaska, Canada, the northern United States and south through the Rocky Mountains. These animals were once more wide-spread, but trapping and destruction of forest habitat has reduced their numbers. They are much more abundant than the larger fisher. The Newfoundland subspecies of this animal is considered to be endangered.
They have a long slender body covered in glossy brownish fur with a lighter coloured throat, a long bushy tail and a pointed snout. Their claws are semi-retractable like those of cats which aids them in climbing trees.
These animals eat small rodents and mammals, fish and frogs, also fruit and berries in summer. They are most active at night, early morning and late afternoon.
Mating occurs during the summer, but implantation of the fertilized egg is delayed and 1 to 5 young "kits" are born the following spring in a den in a hollow tree or rock cavity.
