THE ELUSIVE PINE MARTEN (Martes martes) might be more easily heard than seen in summer, when these solo dwellers come together to mate, making shrill, cat-like calls. They are named for their treetop habitat, where they commandeer tree holes, old squirrel dreys or disused bird nests.
Despite being the largest of the Mustelidae family, pine martens are agile climbers that use bushy tails for balance and furry feet for grip – handy for hunting a winter diet that includes small rodents, birds and insects. Should their claws let them down on the climb, they twist in the air to land safely on four feet.