'Interesting little predator' that hasn't lived in Pa. woods in 100 years to have comeback fate decided this month

[modrepub]

It’s a bushy tailed creature with reddish fur that hasn’t lived naturally in Pennsylvania for more than 100 years.

That could change very soon.

That’s because when the Pennsylvania Game Commission meets later this month — Saturday, Jan. 27 — it is slated to decide on a plan for reintroduction of the American marten.

“We’ll be asking the board to accept those plans,” Pa. Game Commission Furbearer Biologist Thomas Keller told the station. “So if the board would accept the Marten plan, then that would give us the green light to begin moving forward with reintroduction. Of course, if the board would not accept the plan, then that’s where the project would end.

The Pa. Game Commission previously said that public support for reintroduction was at 92 percent.


[link:https://www.pennlive.com/news/2024/01/interesting-little-predator-that-hasnt-lived-in-pa-woods-in-100-years-to-have-comeback-fate-decided-this-month.html|

[Probatim]

1. I occasionally run across some of his mustelid cousins while hunting and fishing

and they are always a joy to see.

I also run across many knuckleheads in Western PA who are certain the Game Commission is doing everything they can to destroy hunting in the state. For instance, the "reintroduction" of coyotes has killed all the deer in the state.

Another run in occurred while fishing. We were launching the boat at a campsite on the Allegheny River and an idiot climbs down from the light pole where he has just emptied a can of bug spray on mayflies then proceeds to tell us the reintroduction of eagles and osprey have decimated the fish population on the river.

It's tough when you have to live near these people.

[NNadir]

5. New Jersey would be happy to donate any deer you need.

They are decimating our forests.

The only predator here other than hunters are cars. They are well over populated.

Once upon a time we had wolves and Pumas.

I'm a veggie type but I smile broadly when I see hunters here

[Probatim]

6. We have plenty of deer here too - two small bucks were eating from the bird feeder today.

Unfortunately, we have a lot of conspiracy theorists who attribute their bad luck to the gubmint.

[Easterncedar]

2. They are coming back in Maine on their own

Always thrilling to see them and their tracks.

[2naSalit]

3. That's cool...

And interesting. Over here, in the Rockies, we have pine martens in the forests. When I used to x-country ski I used to encounter them or their tracks along the trails in the wooded areas and sometimes they would come hunting for voles in the woodpile.

Somewhere in my photo archives I have pictures of one that would frequent my back porch and come nose to nose with the cats, only the window glass between them! They were all the same size.

Anyway, they will be a healthy component in the ecosystem.

[Easterncedar]

8. I'd love to see that picture!

[2naSalit]

10. Okay...

I'll have to hunt it down. I'll be back.

[2naSalit]

11. Here it is...

It's the best of many during this encounter. It came back every winter while I was hanging around that place... I was right on the edge of the forest. Everything passed through or visited that place all the time.

[Easterncedar]

12. How gorgeous!!

Looks almost too cute to be real, much less to be such a fierce hunter!!

Thank you for sharing that. It’s very cool of you!

[Easterncedar]

13. I once watched a group of marten kits, 5 or so

They were playing by the shore of a lake up north near the Canadian border and I was in my little canoe. I watched them a long time. The orange bib was so striking. I couldn’t believe my luck.

[2naSalit]

15. I watched...

A mother moving her kits to a new location out in the woods. I was out skiing, there were all kinds of things to track and enjoy watching from a distance out there. She had three and she carried them just like a cat would. They're weasels and can rip your hand off if you get too close.

They are really pretty to look at though.

[et tu]

4. we have a

fisher in my area, of course some locals hunt the coyotes, ugh~

[Easterncedar]

7. Yeah. I hate the coyote hunting

My guy was a wildlife biologist, and he was against the idea that coyote populations can be controlled by hunting and trapping. They adjust their population to fill the gaps, he said.

[et tu]

9. wasting disease

has stopped a lot of hunters this year in my area-
i'm happily surprised but am concerned for the health of
the deer population~

[Easterncedar]

14. Yes. I've heard that that is spreading badly