Pine Martens
What does a pine marten look like?
Known for their long bodies, and short legs. They have small, rounded ears and sharp teeth for eating meat and semi-retractable claws. Martens have luxurious fur which varies in coloration from dark brown to pale grey, with pale yellowish-brown fur on their undersides, and light breast patches of varying shapes. At maturity male, pine martens are about two feet long, sporting an eight-inch tail, and they weigh about one-and-a-half pounds.
Is a pine marten dangerous?
Although cute and considered an honor to see, they are Colorado's smallest predator species that provides a pivotal importance to the natural woodland ecosystem. They are fast-moving, agile animals both on the ground and in trees. Their diet mainly consists of rabbits, small rodents, birds, eggs, insects, frogs, honey, fungi, carcasses, and berries. Their teeth may be small, but they pack a punch.
What does a pine marten do?
Pine martens are mostly nocturnal, but when they are hungry, they are active day or night, and they are active year-round. Pine marten are opportunistic hunters that can travel up to 5 miles in one night. Their roaming territory is usually around 20 miles. Generally, not considered a threat to structures but sometimes due to their climbing ability they can squeeze through holes in the roofline and accidentally trap themselves inside of homes and businesses. When trapped inside and not removed in a timely manner they can cause damage to a home's decor only slightly less unfortunate than a small bear could.
What is the life cycle of a pine marten?
Solitary except during the breeding season in July or August. The female will mate with various males and may have multiple periods of heat. Females give birth in late March or April to a litter of 1 to 5 kits. Pine martens can live as long as 11 years in the wild. In the coldest weather they may den in a tree hole or chickaree nest.
Signs of a pine marten around my home?
- Noise coming from the attic – especially at night.
- Time of day that you hear noises.
- Tracks found in the mud or snow around a structure.
- Droppings found in attic or in other enclosed spaces.
What should I do?
More often than not these animals are just passing through your property line once in a while and it is a cool sight to see. But if they ever do accidentally find their way into your home it is absolutely discouraged for untrained individuals to handle these little hunters as they are very fearful of humans and incredibly agile. Always call the professionals.