Wildlife at Trapper’s 3 of 3

pine marten

While eating lunch on the deck of Trapper’s cabin we had a visitor.  The pine marten (marten Martes americana), a small predator, is a member of the weasel family, Mustelidae. It is similar in size to a small cat but has shorter legs, a more slender body, a bushy tail, and a pointed face. The fur varies from pale yellowish buff to dark blackish brown. During winter, the marten has a beautiful dark brown fur coat and a bright orange throat patch. The summer coat is lighter in colour and not nearly as thick. Males are the larger sex and weigh about 1 000 g, whereas females weigh about 650 g. The Mustelidae family also includes several other more familiar animals such as the ermine, skunk, and mink.