# American Marten (*Martes americana*) The American Marten is a small, furry animal that loves to climb trees and explore the forest. With its beautiful golden-brown fur, it's a playful creature that enjoys hunting for small animals and fruits. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests ![American Marten](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Marten_bounding_through_the_snow_%28512488bd-68e6-4b67-8e14-95657c022029%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Jacob W. Frank, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marten_bounding_through_the_snow_%28512488bd-68e6-4b67-8e14-95657c022029%29.jpg) ## Appearance The American Marten is a slender mammal with short legs, a long bushy tail, and large, prominent ears. It has rich, dark brown fur that lightens to a creamy or orange throat patch, making it visually distinct from a weasel. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Mustelidae - **Genus:** Martes ## Interesting facts - American Martens often make their cozy dens inside hollow trees or abandoned squirrel nests. - They are distant relatives of weasels, badgers, and even the aquatic otters! - They communicate using various sounds, including chirps, growls, and hisses. - Young martens, called kits, are born blind and helpless, opening their eyes after about a month. ## Special abilities - **Arboreal Acrobat:** American Marten can climb trees with amazing agility because they have semi-retractable claws that help them grip bark securely. - **Headfirst Descent:** American Marten has flexible ankle joints that can rotate nearly 180 degrees, allowing them to climb down trees headfirst. - **Subnivean Hunter:** American Marten can tunnel through snow with ease, allowing them to hunt small prey hidden beneath the surface. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 51-65 cm - **Weight:** 0.5-1.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Speed:** 32 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-5 - **Gestation:** 220-300 days ## Diet & Feeding Martens are omnivores that enjoy small animals and a tasty snack of fruits and berries! - **Primary Foods:** Voles, Mice, Red squirrels, Snowshoe hares, Berries, Insects - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Red Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-squirrel) (*Tamiasciurus hudsonicus*) — A primary prey species, often hunted in trees. - **Eaten by:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-horned-owl) (*Bubo virginianus*) — One of the few predators of adult American Martens. - **Eats:** Bilberry (*Vaccinium myrtillus*) — Consumes berries, helping to disperse plant seeds. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low If you see a wild animal, it's best to watch from a distance and not approach it. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify American Marten? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is American Marten? 51-65 cm ### How much does American Marten weigh? 0.5-1.5 kg ### How long does American Marten live? 5-10 years ### How fast can American Marten move? 32 km/h ### What does American Marten eat? Martens are omnivores that enjoy small animals and a tasty snack of fruits and berries! ### Where is American Marten usually found? Forests ### How does American Marten hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Craig Lake State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/craig-lake-state-park) — Michigan, US · State Park - [Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kokanee-glacier-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Kootenay Lake Provincial Park - Midge Creek Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kootenay-lake-provincial-park-midge-creek-site) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see American Marten](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/american-marten) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [American Marten: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-marten)