Endangered Species of Gros Morne: The American Marten
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The American Marten, also commonly known as the Pine Marten, is a rare member of the weasel family, and is related to other mammals such as otters, minks, and wolverines.These small animals have long bushy tails, elongated bodies, and soft fur that can range from the color yellow to a reddish brown. The males weigh on average about 1275 g, while the females (who are noticeably smaller) weigh about 772 g.The primary habitats of the American Marten are mature, dense conifer forests, mixed conifer-hardwood, and hardwood dominated forests. The American Marten population extends from the Sierra Nevada mountains and the rocky mountains, to Alaska and Canada, They have also been located in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Maine, New York and New Hampshire.
The newfoundland population of american marten had been named an endangered species in 1996 by the COSEWIC. The american marten at one point was on high demand economically for it’s fur, and was frequently trapped. Then in 1934, when officials realized that the population was declining rapidly, commercial hunting of this animal was stopped. Still, the population of american marten has been slow to recover. As of 2010, the current population of american marten in newfoundland was only 286-566 in 5 subpopulations. In regard to current conservation methods, the American marten is currently protected by the Endangered Species act and Species at Risk act. These animals are also granted protection in several national parks, such as Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland. Despite protection, there are many threats that still plague the American Marten today. Loss of habitat, accidental killing with traps and snares, and reduction in landscape connectivity are all factors that still endanger the American Marten population and limit recovery of this species. |