Resting Site Characteristics of American Marten in the Northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan

Abstract

Abstract American marten are associated with forests that are characteristically late successional, closed canopy, and diverse in structure; these attributes meet their habitat requirements and provide resting sites. However, the small populations of marten in Michigan's Northern Lower Peninsula face modern habitat conditions that are fragmented and considerably altered from presettlement environments. Resting site structures are required habitat components that are used daily and provide protection from predation and inclement weather but may be limiting and require active management to preserve. We identified resting site characteristics of American marten in the Manistee National Forest from May 2011 to December 2013. Twenty-five marten (15 male and 10 female) were monitored to identify resting sites. We identified 522 unique resting site structures; tree cavities (n = 255, 48.9%), branches (n = 162, 31%), and nests (n = 90, 17.2%) were most commonly observed. During the summer (April–September) marten...