Animal identifier ยท Other mammals
Martes americana
Mature conifer forest in Canada, Alaska, the Rockies, the Sierra, and the northern Great Lakes and New England. Small five-toed tracks, about 1.5 inches, claws may show.
What does a american marten look like?
House-cat sized, brown, with a pale bib. Longer body than a squirrel.
What do american marten tracks look like?
A reduced fisher trail: same 2-2 lope, smaller prints, more time on logs and in dense conifer.
- Small five-toed tracks, about 1.5 inches, claws may show
- Loping pairs, lighter and closer together than fisher
- Often on logs, so the trail disappears onto a trunk
- Pale throat and face marks if seen
- Scat is small and twisted, left on a log
What does american marten poop look like?
Small dark droppings on elevated logs. Do not handle droppings. Several species carry parasites that stay in the soil around a latrine.
Where you find it
Mature conifer forest in Canada, Alaska, the Rockies, the Sierra, and the northern Great Lakes and New England. Typical places: woods. Year-round where the species lives. Tracks show best in mud, sand, and snow.
What to do next
- Watch from a distance
- Do not handle droppings
- If the animal is injured or inside a building, call a local wildlife officer
This page is a field guide, not a permit to approach wildlife. If an animal is injured, aggressive, or inside a house, call a local wildlife officer.
Animals it is confused with
- Fisher identification
- American mink identification
- All animal identification pages
- Identify an animal from a photo, track, or description
How do you tell marten tracks from fisher tracks?
Marten prints are smaller and the lope is shorter. Fishers are the larger forest mustelid.
How to tell a american marten from similar animals
Use the track, the dropping, and the place together. One print is not enough.
- Fisher. Paired prints in a loping pattern. Long dark body, short legs, bushy tail.
- American mink. Follows the water. Long dark brown body, white chin patch, no pale bib like a marten.
American marten field marks
- Small five-toed tracks, about 1.5 inches, claws may show
- Loping pairs, lighter and closer together than fisher
- Often on logs, so the trail disappears onto a trunk
- Pale throat and face marks if seen
Where the sign shows up
Mature conifer forest in Canada, Alaska, the Rockies, the Sierra, and the northern Great Lakes and New England. Typical places: woods. Year-round where the species lives. Tracks show best in mud, sand, and snow.
A reduced fisher trail: same 2-2 lope, smaller prints, more time on logs and in dense conifer. Small dark droppings on elevated logs.
Common questions
How do you tell marten tracks from fisher tracks?
Marten prints are smaller and the lope is shorter. Fishers are the larger forest mustelid.