The Coastal Marten is a cat sized mammal in the weasel family once found throughout       much of the coastal old growth forests of California and Oregon.

   Thought to be extinct until rediscovered in 1996 it has lost 95% of its original habitat         due to extensive logging and deforestation.   

   the current tiny population is split into four groups near the California and Oregon             border.

  Only around 400 total remain,200 of them in California.

   They are listed as threatened under the endangered species act and as endangered           under   the  California ESA.

   It is critical that their habitat is protected as they are so close to disappearing                     completely.  

   These creatures are extremely vulnerable to forest fires and logging and other human       invasion of their habitat.

​

  Also worrying is the lack of genetic diversity in the four separate populations.

  Ideally if their habitat can be expanded to connect these four populations so they can        find each   other and deepen the gene pool this would go a long way toward preserving    this delicate   unique  creature.

  Plus if we protect the Marten we protect all of animals and plants native to its habitat.

 

  For this website I interviewed Phil Detrich one of the authors of the USDA   assessment    and  conservation strategy for the Humbolt (Coastal) Marten. 

  

  Here is what Phil had to say: 

​

 What is the best way we can help the coastal marten? 

   Phil: "We need to do several things.Perhaps most important is continuing work on             reducing the risk of severe wildfire spreading into occupied habitat. 

   That's challenging because they like forests with brush and brush can be flammable in     dry conditions like we have this year.   So   the forest service and others are making           fuel breaks at important places to help firefighters reduce the spread of fire when it

   does occur.

   Another important task is to establish other populations in areas where they've been         lost but  the habitat is still suitable. That's so if a certain area does get lost to fire there     are other areas   where they survive." 

​

 What is the best way to identify Coastal Marten habitat?

  Phil: "They mostly occur in forests with large trees and with a layer of brush on the            ground   below the trees. some are found in younger forests that are re-growing after        being logged 40   years ago or more. The brush type is important-for instance            huckleberry,which has fruit and   seeds for chipmunks that martens prey on. 

​

 What is the greatest danger to the Coastal Marten?

  Phil: "Severe wildfire over large areas of occupied habitat" 

​

 How do we know how many Coastal Martens there are?

  Phil: "We don't know exactly.Population size is estimated from the number captured in      smaller   areas in scientific work,and applying those numbers across larger areas" 

​

 Is there a way to connect the separate populations of Coastal Martens? 

  Phil: "Good question. It's challenging for various reasons. The broad Klamath River            separates   an existing population from unoccupied suitable habitat on the other                side,where they were   apparently trapped for furs years ago. Maybe it's possible for a        few Martens to swim across    but biologists are considering capturing and moving            some across. In other areas ,such as near   the California-Oregon border,we'll have to        wait while forests grow back after logging or large   wildfires"

 

  Have you seen a coastal Marten in the wild? 

  Phil: "I live about 100 miles inland from the areas occupied by Coastal Martens  and I've    never   seen one. I have seen their cousins the Pacific Marten in my work and recreation    in the areas   around Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen. But because they're mostly nocturnal,      it's very unusual to   see one" 

​

   Thank you Phil!