# Pacific Marten (*Martes caurina*) The Pacific Marten is a playful and curious animal that loves to climb trees. With its soft fur and bushy tail, it is very cute and often found in forests, where it hunts for small animals and berries. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Pacific Marten](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Pacific_marten_Martes_caurina.jpg&width=800) Photo: Oregon State University, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pacific_marten_Martes_caurina.jpg) ## Appearance The Pacific Marten has beautiful rich fur, typically dark brown, with a creamy to orange throat patch and a lighter head. Its slender body, bushy tail, and large, rounded ears help it navigate its forest home. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Mustelidae - **Genus:** Martes ## Interesting facts - Martens mark territory with a special 'handstand' to leave their unique scent! - Their soft, dense fur helps them stay warm in chilly mountain forests. - These furry acrobats can jump surprising distances between tree branches! - They build cozy dens in hollow logs, rock crevices, or even old bird nests. ## Special abilities - **Arboreal Acrobats:** Pacific Marten can scale trees quickly because of their semi-retractable claws and agile bodies, helping them hunt and escape predators. - **Snow Tunnelers:** Pacific Marten has dense fur and broad paws that help them hunt small prey by tunneling under snow, especially during winter. - **Sharp Senses:** Pacific Marten can locate prey in dense cover because of their excellent hearing and sense of smell, aiding in successful hunting. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 36-47 cm - **Weight:** 0.5-1.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 6-8 years - **Speed:** 25 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-5 - **Gestation:** 220-290 days ## Diet & Feeding These energetic hunters enjoy a varied diet of small animals, insects, fruits, and nuts! - **Primary Foods:** Voles, Mice, Squirrels, Berries, Insects, Birds - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Long-tailed Vole (*Microtus longicaudus*) — Primary prey item - **Eaten by:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-horned-owl) (*Bubo virginianus*) — A key predator - **Eats:** [Red Huckleberry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-huckleberry) (*Vaccinium parvifolium*) — Important fruit source - **Shelter:** Douglas-fir (*Pseudotsuga menziesii*) — Uses hollows for denning ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [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. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## 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 Pacific 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 Pacific Marten? 36-47 cm ### How much does Pacific Marten weigh? 0.5-1.5 kg ### How long does Pacific Marten live? 6-8 years ### How fast can Pacific Marten move? 25 km/h ### What does Pacific Marten eat? These energetic hunters enjoy a varied diet of small animals, insects, fruits, and nuts! ### Where is Pacific Marten usually found? Forests ### How does Pacific Marten hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Leadville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/leadville-historic-district) — Colorado, US · Historic District - [Sawtooth Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sawtooth-botanical-garden) — Idaho, US · Botanical Garden - [Mount Wells Regional Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mount-wells-regional-park) — British Columbia, CA · Park [View all places to see Pacific Marten](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/pacific-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: [Pacific Marten: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pacific-marten)