Adorable Marten Makes Comeback in Pacific Northwest Forests

A creature once believed extinct is making a surprising comeback in Pacific Northwest forests, and scientists say this adorable recovery offers real hope for wildlife conservation.

Oregon State University researchers spent three months tracking coastal martens in a 150-square-mile area near Klamath, California, using hair snares and remote cameras. They identified 46 individual martens, including 28 males and 18 females, living throughout the study area in 2022.

The findings mark a remarkable turnaround for these ferret-sized forest carnivores. Coastal martens were hunted nearly to extinction during the 20th century because trappers prized their fur. Heavy logging eliminated much of their forest habitat.

By 1996, scientists believed the species had vanished completely. That year, a U.S. Forest Service biologist discovered a small population surviving in California's coastal woods, sparking new conservation efforts.

Today's marten population still faces serious threats from rodenticides, vehicles, disease and habitat loss. The species remains listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. But the new research shows martens are using diverse habitats more successfully than expected.

The study revealed martens thrive in high-elevation forests with winter snowpack and lower-elevation coastal areas near streams and ravines. They prefer forests with dense canopy cover, large trees, and lots of fallen logs where they can hunt and hide from predators.

The Ripple Effect

The marten's recovery reflects a broader shift in how forests are managed across the Pacific Northwest. The Yurok Tribe now owns and manages one-third of the study area, land previously used only for timber production. They're restoring wildlife habitat and cultural resources while still harvesting some timber sustainably.

This collaborative approach brought together the Yurok and Karuk Tribes, Oregon State University, Cal Poly Humboldt, the U.S. Forest Service, and timber company Green Diamond. Scientists from multiple wildlife agencies also contributed expertise.

"Coastal martens like forests with old-growth characteristics," said OSU wildlife ecologist Sean Matthews, who helped lead the research. The team's work, published in Global Ecology and Conservation, provides crucial data for protecting remaining marten habitat.

Despite the positive findings, major questions remain. Scientists still don't know exactly which forests martens occupy, how many exist in total, or whether populations are growing. Climate change threatens their preferred forests with more severe wildfires.

But for now, these "adorable" forest residents are holding their ground in the woods they call home.