Transcript Title

American Marten Study ~ Iron County
Zach Wilson, Hurley & Mercer High Schools, General Public, North
Lakeland Discovery Center, WDNR, Iron County Forestry Dept.
2010-11 Marten Captures (3 martens captured)
Abstract
American Marten, an endangered species in
Wisconsin, listed as a “species of concern,”
and Native to much of Wisconsin. Through
unregulated trapping, agricultural expansion
and habitat decline martens were extirpated in
Wisconsin by 1925. Since reintroduction in
Wisconsin between 1975-2011, research
suggests there has been little range expansion
beyond the original two release sites. The Iron
County Marten project was started to assist in
locating martens outside of the reintroduction
area and to collect data on home range and
habitat use. Since 2007, citizens such as
trappers, hunters, and students have captured
and radio-collared, 11 martens in Iron County,
which is outside of the reintroduction area.
Recapture # 10 Juv.
female
Recapture #6
Un-collared marten on camera
within #6 home range
Examining Health # 11
Martens 1-11 have a very tight home range that is at times overlapping. We still
believe that we have found a small nucleus of animals that could all be closely related.
Regardless, of their relationship we have gained a lot of information on marten habitat
and home range in Iron county. Marten # 3 (hot pink) is the only adult female we have
captured and is almost exactly in the middle of all other home ranges. This year we
recaptured a Juv. female of which we documented moved home range location about
3 miles away form original trap location.
Discussion
During the 2010-11 field season students and adult citizen science researchers
focused within the core marten area but also started to expand the search
beyond the known marten areas. As a result, two martens were indentified and
two other probable marten sightings occurred. The 2011-12 field session will
continue to search for new marten areas outside of Iron Counties known marten
area. In 2010-11 our biggest effort was observing the reaction Marten #6 had to
a small timber sale within his home range. To date the marten hasn’t changed
his home range size or location however it has not been found resting within the
cut area, where as; in the past it was the core resting site area. We plan on
continuing to monitor marten #6 to see if he changes his home range as a result
of the cutover. The project continues to show evidence of more reproduction
with the capture of another Juvenile Male.
Methods
#10 Pit Tag
Radio- Telemetry
2010-11 Results
2007-11 Resting Site Structure
Hollow Log
3%
Brush Pile
4%
Resting Tree Species
Trail Camera
18
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
10
8
Ground Hole
25%
5
3
2
1
Tree
68%
Yello
Blac
k Sp
1
Ced a
r
w Bi
rch
Sug a
r Ma
pl e
Hem
lo ck
Red
Map
le
Bal s
am F
ir
Blac
k As
h
Wh it
e Pin
e
1
ru ce
# of Trees
In early fall, a training session for adult citizen science
monitors and classroom instruction for high school
students is conducted. Citizen researchers are trained to
use a variety of techniques to survey for martens: DNA
hair snares, humane live capture traps, game/ trail
cameras, tracking surveys, and communication with local
trappers and hunters. Surveyors explored aspects of
forestry, soils, water quality, wildlife and ecosystem
management.
1-11 Marten Home Ranges
Species
Once a marten was located, students and adults assisted
in trapping and Radio-collaring the animals. Radio
collared martens allowed detailed monitoring via use of
radio-telemetry equipment and helped to determine home
range size, survival rates, and habitat use.
Mapping With GPS
Over the past five years of data collection we have observed 49
different resting tree locations used by the marten. The tree
species Northern White Cedar has been used the most by the
marten, ranking at 38%, Hemlock was the second most used
tree species at 20% and Yellow Birch was 16%. The other tree
species listed appear to be insignificant in the data. Another
interesting resting resting location was Black Spruce. Three
times we found the marten resting in a Black Spruce witches
broom.
Out of all of the resting site locations our data shows that the marten chose
to rest in trees 68% of the time, ground holes 25% of the time, brush piles
4%, and hollow logs 3%. Marten resting sites were placed in 4 categories.
Brush Pile, hollow log, ground hole, and tree cavity.
2007-2011 Basal Area at Resting Sites
Average Resting Tree Diameter
25
20.1
18.3
20
15
13.6
13.4
14.5
13.6
10.4
10.5
10
10
5
18
)
He
ml
oc
k
(9)
Re
dM
ap
le
(1)
Ba
lsa
m
Fir
(1)
Bl
ac
kA
sh
(2)
Wh
ite
Pin
e(
1)
Ce
da
r(
ar
Ma
ple
(7)
Su
g
Bi
rch
Ye
l lo
w
pr
uc
e
Bl
ac
kS
(5)
0
(2 )
Average Diameter (in.)
Following capture, students developed a research
hypothesis on marten ecology and habitat use. They
developed a study design, collected data and
synthesized results. Overall, 148 citizens were involved
with the marten project and over 700 hours were spent
teaching workshops, conducting tracking surveys,
trapping, collaring, and collecting data in Iron County.
Basal Area 10 Factor
400
380
350
300
250
200
150
100
270 270
240
230
230
220
220
220
220
210
200
210
180
190
170
180
180
180
170
170 170
170
170
160140 140
160
160
160
160 160
170
150
150
150
140
130
130
130
130 140
130
110
110
100
90
90
210
50
0
1
4
7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 43 46 49
Marten Locations
Tre e Spe cie s
Iron County Forest Manager
Joe Vairus teaching about
basal area and forest
management
A total of 49 resting trees were used by the marten since 2007.Out of
the 49 resting trees there were 9 different species. Cedar trees were
used most of the time with an average diameter of 18.3, followed by
yellow birch at 20.1,followed by hemlock at 13.4. The other tree
species were only used 1 or 2 times. The average diameter of all 49
trees was 13.8 inches in diameter.
We completed a stand examination data form at 49 of the Marten locations. These
locations were either, hunting / feeding areas, resting sites, or capture sites. The
average basal area of the 49 locations is 189 basal area measured by a 10 foot
factor. In general, this number is extremely high with either large trees present or
small trees in dense forests. Note: Basel area was collected for all tree species and
sizes.