Unit 1 [PDF] - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

area the size of a car. Badger tracks are sometimes mistaken for coyote tracks,
but can be distinguished by the five toes and the claw marks of the front feet,
which are well in front of the toe marks. Badger normally cover their droppings
or leave them underground.
The badger is the state animal of Wisconsin, and is a protected species.
Regulated trapping is not allowed at this time.
American Marten
Martes americana; Order: Carnivora; Family: Mustelidae
Description:
American marten, a tree climbing member of the weasel family, are small
woodland mammals varying from light to dark brown with a bushy tail and
orange throat. They weigh from 1-3.5 pounds, with males larger than females.
Marten are active in the early morning, late afternoon, at night and on cloudy
days. They can climb trees, but spend most of their time on the ground foraging
for rodents. When traveling on the ground, they seldom actually touch the
ground, but hop from areas of cover (stumps, fallen logs, coarse woody debris).
Biology:
American marten breed in mid-summer (July-August). After a period of
delayed implantation and about one month of pregnancy, 3-4 young are born
from March to May. A tree den is preferred. Both sexes breed during their second
year of life. Their home range is as small as one square mile but the range
varies with sex, food availability, and habitat. Marten den in hollow trees, fallen
logs, rocks, squirrel nests, and woodpecker holes. Food includes red-backed
voles, other rodents, red squirrels and birds. Fisher and owls prey on marten.
Habitat:
American marten range from New England to the northern Great Lake states,
the Rocky Mountains, and the northern West Coast living in coniferous forests
with numerous dead trees and debris. In Wisconsin, American marten are found
in the forests of the extreme northern parts of the state. They prefer large
areas of mature to old growth upland conifer and northern hardwood forest,
especially where large amounts of fallen timber are present.
Sign:
American marten tracks may be confused with those of a large mink or small
fisher. The walking stride of marten is usually 6-9 inches, but the paired tracks
of bounding marten may be from 1-4 feet apart. Marten scat is about the same
size as mink and similar in shape to weasel and mink. In summer, berries and
fruits may be present in marten scat, but generally not in those of mink.
Chapter 4 - Wisconsin’s Furbearer Resource
American Marten. USFWS Photo.
Front
Rear
Marten tracks.
Front/Rear
1.5” width by 1.25” length
Wisconsin Trapper Education Manual 45