American Marten

Scientific Classification

KINGDOM: Animalia

PHYLUM: Chordata

CLASS: Mammalia

ORDER: Carnivora

FAMILY: Mustelidae

GENUS: Martes

SPECIES: M. americana

Conservation Status

American pine marten meanders through the snow in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario

American Marten peeks out from behind a tree in Algonquin Park, Canada

American Marten jumps from a branch to another in the snow in Ontario, Canada

American martens are 1.5 to 2.2 feet in length, not counting their tail which can grow 5 to 8 inches long! Their weight varies by age and location, but adults weigh 1 to 3 pounds. Male and female American martens have a similar appearance, but males are about 15% greater in length and up to 65% larger in weight!

The color of an American marten’s coat depends on the geographic location; their main color can range from pale yellow all the way to almost black. Consistent with each subspecies is having a lighter-colored face and darker limbs and tail. All American martens also have coloration on their chest and throat ranging from a creamy yellow to vivid orange.

Other telltale characteristics of an American marten are its short legs on its long, slender body, triangular head, pointed nose, and large round ears.

The American martens all originated in the northern states of the U.S. but have since made their way to parts of Canada. They prefer habitats like mature, northern forests that have hollow trees and ground burrows for them to dwell.

American martens are active hunters at night. They are omnivorous, but their diet is known to shift with the seasons. During the summer, American martens will eat more fruit, vegetation, and insects. However, during the winter, they will focus more on catching voles, mice, snowshoe hares, fish, and whatever else they can find.

American Marten standing in the winter snow at the entrance of its den

American martens will come together from June-August for mating season. After mating, females can delay embryotic development for up to 200 days until late winter. After about a month, she will give birth to one-five naked, blind kits in a den. Kits depend on their mother’s milk for six weeks and become independent after about six months.