‘Interesting little predator’ that hasn’t lived in Pa. woods in 100 years to have comeback fate decided this month

It’s a bushy tailed creature with reddish fur that hasn’t lived naturally in Pennsylvania for more than 100 years.

That could change very soon.

That’s because when the Pennsylvania Game Commission meets later this month — Saturday, Jan. 27 — it is slated to decide on a plan for reintroduction of the American marten. WTAJ Altoona reported that three plans are up for consideration.

The Pa. Game Commission’s agenda for the meeting specifically mentions a 10-year reintroduction plan that will be up for final approval.

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“We’ll be asking the board to accept those plans,” Pa. Game Commission Furbearer Biologist Thomas Keller told the station. “So if the board would accept the Marten plan, then that would give us the green light to begin moving forward with reintroduction. Of course, if the board would not accept the plan, then that’s where the project would end.

The Pa. Game Commission previously said that public support for reintroduction was at 92 percent.

And why not?

The Martens — described as “an interesting little predator” by National Parks Traveler — are really kind of cute, and they are a neat member of the weasel family. The commission says they are about the size of a fox squirrel, and there was a time they were really quite common here. They are omnivores who eat mice, insects and plant material. It said the animals don’t typically pose a threat to wild turkeys.

But they prefer diverse forests, and the commission said that by the beginning of the 20th century extensive deforestation and unregulated harvesting caused them to disappear. They estimate the animals haven’t been in Pa. for more than 120 years.

“The marten acts as a flagship species, bringing benefits to many other species that require a healthy and diverse forest,” the commission said in a video. “Like the elk and bald eagle, a potential reintroduction opportunity to benefit the wildlife viewing community and outdoor recreation industry.

“This is an opportunity to bring an icon back to Penn’s woods,” the video finished by saying. “And experience Pennsylvania’s wilds in a new and wonderful way.”