Pennsylvania's Bureau of Wildlife Management is working on an experimental reintroduction plan to restore the American marten to woods and hills in the Keystone State.

This tree-dwelling relative of the mink was extirpated from the state 100 years ago, and a plan to create an experimental, non-protected population to monitor how a predator introduction would affect existing ecosystems in PA is set to be discussed in April.

Weighing between 1 and 3 pounds, the American marten is a true omnivore, preying on insects, fish, plants, rodents, and other items.

As part of a Feasibility Assessment, the Game Commission conducted extensive diet research from across the marten's range in other states and found that marten eat primarily rodents.

Some opponents of the reintroduction worry these canny predators will damage populations of game species like grouse and wild turkey or those listed as endangered or vulnerable like the northern goshawk.

At least during the Feasibility Assessment however, species such as turkey, including eggs and chicks, and the northern goshawk, were not identified as prey items in the diet research.

The BWF believes that because the marten has lived in Pennsylvania recently, reintroducing them will help bring the ecosystem into better balance by increasing biodiversity, and returning ecological processes such as seed dispersal and rodent population management.

According to North Central PA, a January survey targeted at hunters found a pretty even split of opinion on the reintroduction, with 37% in favor, 32% in opposition, and 31% remaining neutral.

The BWF hopes to understand and perhaps assuage concerns among those in opposition by collecting more information for them in time for the April meeting.

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