Pine Marten

What do you get when you cross a fox with a weasel?
How about a pine marten; also known as the American marten.
These little guys do a lot of their hunting at night, so it's pretty rare to see one. Plus, they're on Wisconsin's Endangered List, which makes them even harder to find.

For the most part, pine martens eat small rodents: things like voles, chipmunks, deer mice, and squirrels. They'll also eat any carrion (dead animals) they come across in the woods. Pine martens live in mature forests that have a mix of evergreen and broadleaf trees, like those found in northern Wisconsin! These forests provide plenty of food, protection from predators, and den sites to use. Pine martens especially like fallen trees or downed woody debris. They also like live hollow or standing dead trees called "snags". Some government agencies and companies that own forests have even made it a rule to leave more snags and dead trees in the forest. For more pine marten stuff and a photo, go to:

Pine Marten