Survey To Precede Further Action On Marten Plan

Exploring the possibility of reintroducing American martens to Pennsylvania will include consideration of an additional public survey gauging residents’ opinions on the matter.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission recently developed the draft “American Marten Reintroduction and Management Plan for Pennsylvania,” a long-term, 10-year strategy to translocate the species back to the state, then conduct comprehensive monitoring to evaluate that reintroduction.

The Board of Commissioners tabled a proposal until the results of a soon-to-be-conducted scientific survey clarify the public’s opinions about the initiative. The survey will be conducted by the Virginia-based Responsive Management.

The American marten (Martes americana) is a small furbearer that’s about the same size as adult mink or fox squirrel. Martens weigh between 1 and 3 pounds and measure between 19 and 27 inches.

Martens were once commonly found in portions of Pennsylvania. They disappeared from the Commonwealth in the early 1900s, though, as a result of deforestation and unregulated harvest.

A feasibility assessment by the Game Commission found that martens would have sufficient habitat within Pennsylvania and pose little to no risk to other species if reintroduced. Much information about martens is available from the Game Commission at https://american-marten-pagame.hub.arcgis.com/.