American Marten

Part of Hall of North American Mammals.

Close-up on diorama of a marten near a lake nestled in a mountainous region.

July Morning, Crater Lake, Oregon

A marten emerges tentatively at the bare rim of Crater Lake in search of ground squirrels. Martens don’t like being exposed in the open. They’d rather stay concealed in big evergreen trees or underbrush so carnivorous birds or wild cats can’t spot them. Clear-cutting and fur trapping have taken a toll on marten populations, but with forest regrowth and trapping laws, these shy, solitary hunters are rebounding. 

Map of North American showing the current range of the American marten with a star marking Crater Lake National Park, Oregon as the diorama site.
NAM CC American Marten
© AMNH/D. Finnin
AmericanMarten_dioramasite