Resting and denning sites of American martens in northeastern Oregon

Evelyn L. Bull; Thad W. Heater

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Resting and denning sites of American martens in northeastern Oregon

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Resting and denning sites of American martens in northeastern Oregon

Evelyn L. Bull and Thad W. Heater

Northwest science., Vol.74(3), pp.179-185

2000

Handle:

https://hdl.handle.net/2376/1018

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Abstract

wild animals

wildlife management

wildlife conservation

resting places

tree holes

cavities in-trees

dead wood

snow

logs

slash

heartwood

decay

plant morphology

rust diseases

mistletoes

coniferous forests

animal behaviour

plant pathogenic-fungi

plant pathogens

fungal diseases

forests

Habitats

Forest Management

Forest Ecology

Resting and denning sites of the American marten (Martes americana) are important habitat components because they provide protection from predators, inclement weather, and thermal stress. In this study carried out in predominantly unmanaged coniferous forests in the Blue Mountains of Oregon (USA) in December 1993-October 1997, resting sites (n=1184) used by 35 radiocollared martens were in trees with natural platforms (43%), in trees with cavities (23%), subnivean (under snow) (23%), in hollow logs or slash piles (7%), and underground (3%). Thirty natal and post-natal dens were in trees with cavities (40%), in hollow logs (37%), underground (17%), and in slash piles (6%). Resting and denning sites in cavities and hollow logs were typically large-diameter structures with extensive heartwood decay that had created hollow chambers. The majority of platforms used as resting sites were formed by broom rust (Chrysomyxa arctostaphyli and Melampsorella caryophyllacearum) and dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium spp.). Incorporating habitat needs of martens in forest management practices by retaining coarse woody debris and trees with brooms is one component necessary for maintaining viable populations of the species.

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Details

Title: Resting and denning sites of American martens in northeastern Oregon
Creators: Evelyn L. Bull (Author)
Thad W. Heater (Author)
Publication Details: Northwest science., Vol.74(3), pp.179-185
Academic Unit: Northwest Science
Publisher: WSU Press
Identifiers: 99900502617301842
Copyright: In copyright ; openAccess ; http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ ; http://purl.org/eprint/accessRights/OpenAccess
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article