GRAND TETON NATURE NOTES

THE MARTEN, A HIGH MOUNTAIN MAMMAL

by Allan D. Cameron
Ranger-Naturalist

The marten (Martes caurina origines) possesses a variety of traits which make it one of the most fascinating of all our wild animals. It is what might be termed a "medium-sized" animal similar to the better known weasel to which it is closely related. The adults may reach a length of three feet, and may weigh from five to six pounds.

The American Sable, as it is sometimes called, is considered to have the best quality of any marketable fur. The marten is circumpolar in distributions, and in former times was extensively trapped in Siberia where the largest and best supply of that beautiful fur came from. Undoubtedly some of the travels and discoveries made by the early trappers in western North America can be attributed to the much-prized marten fur. Martens range southward down the main Rocky Mountain Cordilleran as far south as Colorado as well as to the southern part of the Sierra Nevada Range of California. It is often referred to as the Pine Marten as it is frequently associated with heavy timber-covered mountains of the northern hemisphere.

The adaptibility of the creature accounts for its being found today not only in forested mountains but at or above timberline as well. In fact one of the most recent records we have for the Tetons places it well above timberline on the sharp arete between Mount Owen and Mount Teewinot. On August 12 a party of six climbers were attracted by the disturbance set up by a small group of birds, Black Rosy Finches (Leucosticte atrata), and soon saw the cause: a very agile animal running in our direction. It apparently failed to notice the group of climbers at first as its attention was on the birds. It was not long, however, until the animal was aware of us and proceeded to make a detour.

We could not help noticing how completely at home the marten seemed in his rocky habitat as he scrambled over the rocks with the utmost confidence and agility. It negotiated the perpendicular rock walls with no apparent difficulty—a feat that I am sure we would have put in the "humanly impossible" class in spite of our own climbing experience and equipment. We noted, too, the restless and ferocious attitude this animal possesses.

As one might expect of creatures with such a disposition, they are seldom seen together. In fact, male and female are together for only a short time during February and March, and a record of two males together is unknown. This alpine species is somewhat smaller than the timber-dwelling variety, and the one we saw on August 12, 1936, was about two feet in length and must have weighed about four pounds.

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Marten are fairly common in the timbered areas of the park, and are occasionally seen during the winter. Jess Roberts reports that one has been visiting his residence at Jenny Lake in search of food, and is now so bold that no ordinary gesture will frighten him away. H.R.S.