The hole by the energy center has a visitor! Most likely this is the same weasel we were tracking in the previous blog post. Read on to learn a bit more about this curious predator.

A Marten pokes its head out of a burrow by the Garage.

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Martens were at one time in danger of disappearing. Around 1920, logging and habitat destruction almost led to their demise. But luckily for good management practices and monitoring, Marten populations made a full recovery by 1990.

Out of the hole and staring right at the camera.

Martens can be described by their golden brown coloration and the yellow markings on their chest. In the picture below, you can see the lighter patch on this marten’s underside. They have a long body (24-30in, including tail) and short rounded ears.

The Marten stands on its hind legs surveying the scene.

The menu items for a Marten may include: mice, chipmunks, red squirrels, and insects. During summer months their diet may include berries and nuts. In winter months, when there is deep enough snow, Martens will hunt in subnivien tunnels in search of prey.