Small and slender, like a house cat, the American Marten is native to Michigan. But few of them exist in the Lower Peninsula.
Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Natural Resources Department is hoping to change that. They are asking more and more questions, seeking to understand more about the carnivorous mammal.
“Our goal is to try to ultimately have a sustainable long term viable population within the Lower Peninsula,” says Bob Sanders, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Wildlife Division Manager.
They’re culturally significant to the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians as many tribal members associate with an animal in what’s called a clan group.Different families associate with the Marten clan according to Sanders.
They’re also ecologically significant as they’re used as an indicator species of forest health.
“From the cultural and the ecological size and not just the intrinsic value in and of themselves they’re an important part of overall what makes Michigan, Michigan and what makes a forest a forest,” says Sanders.
The species was extirpated in the early 20th century due to land consumption and deforestation during the lumber days.
Marten live in a narrow range of habitats. They prefer older forests, coniferous trees and canopies, or complex structures, along the forest floor where they can nest.
Now, because of forest management and studies done by the Wildlife Division, along with other agencies, the population could thrive in the region.
Sanders says this revitalization project has been going on for nearly a decade. Prior to that a similar effort took place in 1955 to 1979.The U.S. Forest Service and State of Michigan reintroduced 270 animals in the Upper Peninsula.
And in 1985 to 1986 another endeavor took place. Marten were reintroduced in the Manistee National Forest.
“The original plan was to release around 200 animals in the Lower Peninsula,” says Sanders. “However, for a number of different reasons, that never really happened and it was supposed to take place over a series of years and come from multiple source populations.”
Sanders says having multiple source locations for the marten is a crucial component to the population growth. Currently, the species has limited genetic variability which can harm the growth of the population.
Sanders says what would benefit the population is a trap and transfer, much like the original plan from the eighties. But they would trap and transfer from different regions to supplement the population with additional genetics.
There’s no plans as of yet to trap and release martens into the region. But this idea, coupled with the current research on marten habitats and prey, could secure the future growth of the population.
Sanders says they will be going to Minnesota next week to learn more about the prey base of the animal. There they can do DNA coding on the remains of prey found in the animals’ scat to compare their eating habits to the population in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.
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