Hunting Marten

Description

For many squirrels, the last thing they see in the rear-view mirror is a Pine Marten. These amazing predators can pull their legs in to follow their prey through tight undergrowth or pop them out to take 2 meter bounding leaps across the snow. Climbing a tree is no escape and in the summer the squirrels can be dug out of their burrows. Pine Marten are third largest member of the weasel family in Canada – only Fishers and Wolverines are larger.

Although deadly to rodents, they can be very inquisitive and entertaining to humans as they scamper, climb and look into every nook and cranny. I was able to observe a Marten from the kitchen window as it ran around and explored the yard and then pressed it’s nose to the glass to watch us. They are wary but their curiosity often overcomes caution.