Martens are relatives of the weasel.  They are solitary animals and scared of human beings.  They currently exist in remote coniferous forests of Oregon and Washington, Alaska, and British Columbia. A marten will make a year-round den out of a hollowed out snag or old Pileated woodpecker nest, where it will eat, sleep, and raise its young.  Martens spend about half of their time in the forest canopy, much of which is spent searching for mice, squirrels, rats, and the occasional bat on which they feed. Martens are a food source for bobcat, lynx, fisher, Great horned owl, and Eagles.  Martens are incredibly sensitive to environmental impact and humans. Their populations in Washington and Oregon are endangered due extensive trapping in the early 1900’s and due to clearcut logging practices, which fragment their habitat and decrease their prey populations.
 

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