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Coastal Marten

All articles tagged with #coastal marten

Elusive Humboldt marten resurfaces in California forests with about 500 individuals remaining
environment28 days ago

Elusive Humboldt marten resurfaces in California forests with about 500 individuals remaining

A rediscovered coastal marten (Humboldt marten) in northern California is estimated to number about 500 individuals, occupying roughly 5% of its historic range. Researchers used 135 remote cameras and 285 hair snares over 400 square kilometers to gather data, finding 28 males and 18 females and a density of about one marten per three square kilometers. The species favors complex, high-canopy forests with large trees, snags, and hollow logs. Habitat loss, climate change, and logging threaten its survival, underscoring the need for forest protection and continued monitoring.

California's Humboldt Marten: 500 Individuals Left in Fragmented Old-Growth Habitats
science29 days ago

California's Humboldt Marten: 500 Individuals Left in Fragmented Old-Growth Habitats

A three-month study in northern California using 135 remote cameras and 285 hair snares estimates about 500 Humboldt/Coastal martens remain, occupying only about 5% of their historic range with a density of roughly one animal per three square kilometers. Genetic testing found 28 males and 18 females; cameras logged 86 photographs. Martens prefer high-elevation, old-growth forests with dense canopy and abundant coarse woody debris, and the findings will guide conservation as climate-change threats loom.

Coastal martens mapped: OSU study reveals habitat preferences and a 46-individual snapshot
science1 month ago

Coastal martens mapped: OSU study reveals habitat preferences and a 46-individual snapshot

Oregon State University researchers conducted a three-month study in 2022 in a 150-square-mile coastal area near Klamath to map the coastal marten’s population and habitat using hair-based genetic analysis, identifying 46 martens (28 males, 18 females). Martens favored high-elevation, snow-rich ridges and lower-elevation riparian/coastal forests with complex structure—forests with more than 50% canopy, many large trees, snags, and coarse woody debris. The coastal marten, once ranging from northern Oregon to northern California, declined due to fur trapping; current distribution and demography remain incompletely understood, underscoring the need for further conservation-focused research.