Input sought on how American marten will return to Pennsylvania woods

The American marten is a step closer to being reintroduced to the state’s woodlands after the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners on Saturday approved the release of a draft 10-year strategic plan.

The commissioners will accept comments on the 125-page plan until Nov. 15. The plan outlines how to relocate the native species of weasel to Pennsylvania after its disappearance more than 100 years ago. It also provides a playbook for monitoring the species.

The board would have to approve the plan after the public comment period before it can go into effect.

The American marten, or pine marten and its potential habitats have been studied for months. The reintroduction and management plan was completed by wildlife biologist Thomas J. Keller.

There are several high-priority locations of public lands in Northcentral Pennsylvania that were identified as potential release sites. The ridges of Westmoreland County also would be a suitable habitat, according to the plan.

A minimum of 300 marten from neighboring states and possibly Canada would be needed for reintroduction. They will be tracked through electronic tags implanted under the skin to help researchers learn more about the creatures’ habitat and life cycles.

Researchers expect the project to cost the state game commission about $2 million over 10 years.

Martens are about 2 pounds — the size of a squirrel or mink — and disappeared from the state about 1900, during a period of deforestation and unregulated harvest, the game commission said.

The animals live in forested areas, composed of coniferous trees or a mixture with deciduous trees, that receive more than 35 inches of snow annually. The plan found martens typically hunted and ate small mammals, such as mice, and plant material and insects. Comments about the plan can be emailed to pamarten@pa.gov.