Recovery Efforts for the Endangered American Marten

As part of continuing efforts to increase the population of the endangered American marten, five of the animals were released in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Cheticamp, Inverness Co. today, Wednesday, Dec. 3.

Department of Natural Resources, Parks Canada, Mi'kmaq youth and the Unama'ki Institute of Natural Resources participated in the release. Lawrence Wells, an elder from Membertou First Nation, conducted a smudge ceremony and blessed the marten as they were released.

"The partnerships we have formed with many groups that have the common interest of protecting the American marten and other species at risk, are invaluable to this project," said Natural Resources Minister David Morse. "The American marten are important to our province's biodiversity, a part of our history, and by continuing this important work, we will secure them as a part of our future."

The American marten, a member of the weasel family, was placed on the province's endangered species list in 2001. Marten were trapped extensively throughout Nova Scotia since the 1700's until the season was closed in the early 1900s because of low numbers. This year, during the second year of a five-year recovery plan, more than 40 American marten are being transferred from New Brunswick to Nova Scotia. Last year about 30 animals were transferred.

The marten will continue to be monitored by many methods to better understand their movement, activities and population. Community members are asked to participate by reporting any marten sightings in Cape Breton and throughout the province.

"The goal of the recovery plan is to bring the population of American marten in Cape Breton to the point where it is self-sustaining," said Peter Austin-Smith, biologist with the Department of Natural Resources. "Today, we are making great strides and the results from last year have been positive. However, it will take several years of continued efforts, education and monitoring until we know that our project has been fully successful."

Objectives of the recovery plan include building partnerships and raising awareness of the efforts needed to improve the population of American marten in Cape Breton.

For more information on the American marten and other species at risk in Nova Scotia go to: www.gov.ns.ca/natr/wildlife/biodiv/specieslist.htm .