Neighborhood pine marten plays in the trees

12/17/08

American Marten (250x373)

observer image © Wikispecies

Location: Nederland, CO

what: American Marten

Liesl thought it was a black squirrel. But as soon as I saw it, I knew it was too big and too weaselly. My thoughts kept saying "pine marten or something..." until I realized that it was in a pine forest and that was probably what it was. We lost track of it as it jumped from tree to tree. But as we went around the corner, it ran across the road in front of us. We were able to watch it for a few more moments as it climbed about 10-12 feet up a pine tree and then leaped down to the snow below--clearly playing--and eventually it was out of sight. On the way home, we stopped in at the library. An animal almanac was on display. I opened it and turned right to the page with a picture of a pine marten.

Community Discussion

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nunemaj	Posted: about 1 year ago.
	Follow-up... A friend who lives in that neighborhood says that he has regularly seen a pine marten hunting squirrels. I wonder if it is the same one?

adam_jack

Posted: about 1 year ago.

WOW, awesome. That is a great one for me to add to my wishlist for 2009. I'd once seen one of these (deep in the woods) but would love to find one closer to home.

I do wonder if they are here all the time, or if (like Clark's Nutcrackers) they will move to avoid the beetle kill areas.