The Little-Known Story Of The American Marten In Pennsylvania And How It May Be Making A Comeback
By Beth Price-Williams|Published February 23, 2024
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
We all like a really good comeback story, and wildlife in Pennsylvania has some of the greatest tales to tell. Take elk. These majestic animals once roamed Pennsylvania, predominately throughout the north-central part of the state. By the late 1860s, however, the elk had disappeared – until 1913. From then until 1926, the Pennsylvania Game Commission reintroduced elk back into Pennsylvania. White-tail deer and wild turkey also have their own comeback stories. Now it just might be the American marten’s turn.
Before the turn of the 20th century, the American marten, a member of the weasel family that weighs between one and three pounds, roamed the forests of Pennsylvania. Hunting and deforestation lead to the disappearance of the species in the state by the 1920s.
The only American martens in Pennsylvania today live at ZooAmerica in Hershey, but that may change in the coming years if a reintroduction plan is approved by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
Plans to move forward with the reintroduction plan were shelved in January 2024 after commissioners voted to continue gathering information before making a final decision. While the majority of those Pennsylvanians who weighed in overwhelmingly favored the reintroduction of the American marten, hunters had a more lackluster response.
Of the 9,000 hunters surveyed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, only 37 percent stated they were in favor of the reintroduction. The remaining respondents either opposed (32 percent) or were neutral (31 percent) to the plan, causing concern for several on the commission.
Reintroducing the American marten in Pennsylvania will have a variety of benefits, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, including “increasing biodiversity, and returning ecological processes such as seed dispersal or rodent population management.” American martens eat a variety of small mammals, including mice, voles, marmots, and plants and insects.
Five areas, including within the Allegheny National Forest and on state game lands, were identified as potential locations where the American marten would be released. A minimum of 60 wild martens, taken from other states, would be released in each area after they’ve been tested for diseases and tagged.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission will then keep track of the American martens, allowing them to learn more about their lives, habits, and habitats. Reintroduction would cost roughly $2 million over 10 years.
Do you hope to see the return of the American marten in Pennsylvania? Let us know in the comments! Did you know you can see wolves in Pennsylvania? Plan a visit to Wolf Sanctuary of PA in Lititz. Before you set off on your next adventure, make sure you pack your camera.
