IN THIS STATE(Vermont): THE
MARTEN MAKES A COMEBACK,
AND CHRIS BERNIER IS HOT ON
ITS TAIL
April 2014
The American Marten
Red Sox slugger “Big Papi” (aka David Ortiz) may have
his selfie with President Obama, but Chris Bernier has
got photos he thinks are even better – and he’s not even
in them.
his selfie with President Obama, but Chris Bernier has
got photos he thinks are even better – and he’s not even
in them.
They’re pictures of martens, weasel-like animals long considered extirpated from the deep forests of Vermont. A member of the mustelid family, which includes weasels, fisher, ermine and mink, the last
confirmed sightings of a wild American marten
(formerly pine marten) had been in the 1940s.
confirmed sightings of a wild American marten
(formerly pine marten) had been in the 1940s.
Despite an effort to reintroduce them between 1989 and
1991, they’ve long been considered a “phantom emblem”
of the boreal forest, in the poetic words of former state
naturalist Charles Johnson, in his book “The Nature of
Vermont.”
1991, they’ve long been considered a “phantom emblem”
of the boreal forest, in the poetic words of former state
naturalist Charles Johnson, in his book “The Nature of
Vermont.”
But the phantom, it appears, is back, and no one is
happier than Bernier, who oversees the state’s
population of fur-bearing mammals for the Vermont
Department of Fish & Wildlife.
happier than Bernier, who oversees the state’s
population of fur-bearing mammals for the Vermont
Department of Fish & Wildlife.
“It’s an exciting one to work on,” says Bernier, adding
that even this day that he is talking about his job and
the evidence for martens, he’s had two calls about
potential sightings.
The larger of the two weasels, THE FISHER
that even this day that he is talking about his job and
the evidence for martens, he’s had two calls about
potential sightings.
The larger of the two weasels, THE FISHER
The little cousin of the Fisher, The American Marten
of the genus Marfes. "
Adult males generally weigh 3.5-5.5 kg, though larger
males are not un-
common in parts of the species' range. Females
generally weigh 2.0-2.5 kg.
95 cm . Although martens vary considerably in size
across
their range, they are nowhere as large as fishers. Like
fishers, male martens are larger than females; males
generally weigh
0.6-1.0 kg, but can be up to 1.4 kg, whereas females
generally weigh
0.4-0.7 kg, but can be up to 1 kg (Buskirk and
McDonald 1989). Males
generally are 50-70 cm in total length, whereas
females are 45-60 cm
While his scientific background (a degree in wildlife
management from the University of Maine), doesn’t
lend itself to flat declarations, he says he is “cautiously
optimistic” that the house-cat sized omnivores have
returned to their rightful place in Vermont’s deep
forests, with reproducing populations now in both
the Northeast Kingdom and southern Green Mountains.
management from the University of Maine), doesn’t
lend itself to flat declarations, he says he is “cautiously
optimistic” that the house-cat sized omnivores have
returned to their rightful place in Vermont’s deep
forests, with reproducing populations now in both
the Northeast Kingdom and southern Green Mountains.
Bernier works in the Springfield office of the Fish &
Wildlife Department and has the title of “Fur Bearer
Project Leader,” a post he’s spent 20 years working
up to. His job is varied, to say the least, in keeping
with the varied nature of his furry wards, which
range “from the weasel up to the mountain lion,”
he explains – 17 animals in all.
Wildlife Department and has the title of “Fur Bearer
Project Leader,” a post he’s spent 20 years working
up to. His job is varied, to say the least, in keeping
with the varied nature of his furry wards, which
range “from the weasel up to the mountain lion,”
he explains – 17 animals in all.
Chris Bernier holds a weeks-old bear cub to keep it warm
while the radio collar on the cub’s mother is being changed.
Bernier, who oversees management of 17 fur-bearing
Vermont animals for the Fish & Wildlife Department,
recently announced that the long-vanished American
marten appears to be back and reproducing in Vermont.
Photo courtesy Chris Bernier
while the radio collar on the cub’s mother is being changed.
Bernier, who oversees management of 17 fur-bearing
Vermont animals for the Fish & Wildlife Department,
recently announced that the long-vanished American
marten appears to be back and reproducing in Vermont.
Photo courtesy Chris Bernier
He’s seen them all except the mountain lion,
wolf and lynx, which is slightly larger than the
bobcat and is rare but does exist in a small
population in the Northeast Kingdom.
wolf and lynx, which is slightly larger than the
bobcat and is rare but does exist in a small
population in the Northeast Kingdom.
“Winter is my busy time of the year, field-wise,”
he explains. On any given week. Bernier can
be out tracking lynx or marten, assessing
habitat, checking bear dens, or writing reports
in his cluttered office.
he explains. On any given week. Bernier can
be out tracking lynx or marten, assessing
habitat, checking bear dens, or writing reports
in his cluttered office.
You could add that he’s never met a pelt he
didn’t like – pelts and knowledgeable trappers
being a source of valuable information. Another
part of his job makes him a wildlife version of
CSI, which recently put him in the basement
of a lab at the Roxbury Fish Hatchery, where
he was performing necropsies on the frozen
carcasses of around 130 (no-longer-fur-bearing)
animals legally harvested by trappers, primarily
fisher, bobcat and otter. (Martens remain a
state endangered species and are not trapped).
didn’t like – pelts and knowledgeable trappers
being a source of valuable information. Another
part of his job makes him a wildlife version of
CSI, which recently put him in the basement
of a lab at the Roxbury Fish Hatchery, where
he was performing necropsies on the frozen
carcasses of around 130 (no-longer-fur-bearing)
animals legally harvested by trappers, primarily
fisher, bobcat and otter. (Martens remain a
state endangered species and are not trapped).
While it sounds like a gruesome assembly line,
Bernier said the occasion drew experts from
adjoining states for the “incredible information”
they can get about wildlife in the region, from
general health, sex, age and vitality of the
animals to any diseases, parasites and whether
there is evidence of heavy-metal concentration
in the animals.
Bernier said the occasion drew experts from
adjoining states for the “incredible information”
they can get about wildlife in the region, from
general health, sex, age and vitality of the
animals to any diseases, parasites and whether
there is evidence of heavy-metal concentration
in the animals.
Bernier is one of those rare individuals who
even as a child knew his likely career
destination. “It was really the only choice;
this is what I was going to do,” he says.
even as a child knew his likely career
destination. “It was really the only choice;
this is what I was going to do,” he says.
He credits his natural surroundings as a
key influence. He grew up in West Gardiner,
Maine, living close to the Cobbosseecontee
Stream, which flows into the mighty
Kennebec River. He spent endless hours
in woods and on water, stashing a canoe
by a beaver impoundment to paddle through
twilight, observing beaver, mink, otter and
other mammals.
key influence. He grew up in West Gardiner,
Maine, living close to the Cobbosseecontee
Stream, which flows into the mighty
Kennebec River. He spent endless hours
in woods and on water, stashing a canoe
by a beaver impoundment to paddle through
twilight, observing beaver, mink, otter and
other mammals.
“I spent all my free time in the woods,”
he says. “I’ve been dabbling at this stuff
literally since high school.”
Chris Bernier is shown setting out a game camera
he says. “I’ve been dabbling at this stuff
literally since high school.”
Chris Bernier is shown setting out a game camera
in the Glastonbury Wilderness Area of the
Green Mountain National Forest in southern
Vermont. Using the cameras, he confirmed
that Vermont appears to have a wild
reproducing population of American martens,
which were extirpated in the 1940s. Photo by
Scott Wixsom, U.S. Forest Service
After receiving his college degree, he
worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, and then later as a private
consultant, as an environmental educator
and finally as a wildlife biologist for the
state of Vermont.
The tale of the marten, Bernier explains, is
one intertwined with history, habitat, predators
and population.
one intertwined with history, habitat, predators
and population.
Martens are creatures of the deep forest,
smaller than their cousin, the fisher. The
fisher is a ferocious predator from the same
family and fishers were successfully
reintroduced in the late 1950s and 1960s
to control porcupines.
smaller than their cousin, the fisher. The
fisher is a ferocious predator from the same
family and fishers were successfully
reintroduced in the late 1950s and 1960s
to control porcupines.
Martens measure some 18-26 inches long
(males are larger and a third of their size is tail)
and the habitat of the curious but solitary
predator largely vanished in the deforestation
of the mid-1800s.
(males are larger and a third of their size is tail)
and the habitat of the curious but solitary
predator largely vanished in the deforestation
of the mid-1800s.
The regrowth of Vermont to roughly 75 percent
forest opened a window for martens to find
suitable upland mountain habitat, which is
what they prefer, Bernier explains. More
than two decades ago, the state, along with
the national forest and partners in Maine
and New York, released 115 ear-tagged
martens in southern Vermont in places
such as Mount Holly and Wallingford to try
and re-establish the population in the
southern Green Mountains.
forest opened a window for martens to find
suitable upland mountain habitat, which is
what they prefer, Bernier explains. More
than two decades ago, the state, along with
the national forest and partners in Maine
and New York, released 115 ear-tagged
martens in southern Vermont in places
such as Mount Holly and Wallingford to try
and re-establish the population in the
southern Green Mountains.
For five years afterwards, a Fish &
Wildlife worker set up 50 baited cameras
to try to ascertain if the population was
viable. “There were no pictures of martens,”
said Bernier – but they got 85 pictures of
fishers, which are “direct competitors for
resources and a direct predator.” That led
experts to consider the reintroduction a failure.
Wildlife worker set up 50 baited cameras
to try to ascertain if the population was
viable. “There were no pictures of martens,”
said Bernier – but they got 85 pictures of
fishers, which are “direct competitors for
resources and a direct predator.” That led
experts to consider the reintroduction a failure.
But starting in early 2000, Bernier explains,
the department started receiving reports of
sightings of martens in southern Vermont.
“They’re very distinctive if you know what
you’re looking for,” he says, and sightings
were also reported in the Northeast Kingdom,
where a reintroduction was not attempted
because biologists figured the area would
recolonize on its own.
the department started receiving reports of
sightings of martens in southern Vermont.
“They’re very distinctive if you know what
you’re looking for,” he says, and sightings
were also reported in the Northeast Kingdom,
where a reintroduction was not attempted
because biologists figured the area would
recolonize on its own.
“That is, in fact, what happened,” he says.
Meanwhile down south, he guesses, a few
of the reintroduced martens did survive to
provide a new population.
Meanwhile down south, he guesses, a few
of the reintroduced martens did survive to
provide a new population.
“(Last winter) within weeks of putting out
four cameras, we had pictures of two
different martens.” And sightings and tracks
discovered by trappers out for fisher further
confirmed the state had two distinct expanding
marten populations.
four cameras, we had pictures of two
different martens.” And sightings and tracks
discovered by trappers out for fisher further
confirmed the state had two distinct expanding
marten populations.
Unlike much larger fishers, martens thrive and
live underneath deep snow cover –
the term is subnivean – preying on whatever
they can find there, such as moles or mice.
Martens are supremely well adjusted to deep
snow such as Vermont has had this year, but
may be at a disadvantage in low-snow years,
he says.
live underneath deep snow cover –
the term is subnivean – preying on whatever
they can find there, such as moles or mice.
Martens are supremely well adjusted to deep
snow such as Vermont has had this year, but
may be at a disadvantage in low-snow years,
he says.
“The southern Green Mountains are perfect
marten habitat in the high elevations,” notes
Bernier.
marten habitat in the high elevations,” notes
Bernier.
Martens, even more than fishers, are remarkable
and nimble climbers, a trait they share with a
favorite prey, red squirrels, which they will
chase across tree tops.
and nimble climbers, a trait they share with a
favorite prey, red squirrels, which they will
chase across tree tops.
Bernier is now turning his attention to mapping
the extent of their spread.
the extent of their spread.
“We’re essentially trying to get a handle on their
distribution. That’s our primary goal for now,”
he says, along with studying their habitat conditions.
distribution. That’s our primary goal for now,”
he says, along with studying their habitat conditions.
For Bernier, the marten success story is sort of
an antidote to his most prominent media role,
which is as catchall for catamount sightings and
pictures. He spends a lot of time following up
and mostly debunking them, finding everything
from mountain lion pictures from other states
to mistaken identity.
an antidote to his most prominent media role,
which is as catchall for catamount sightings and
pictures. He spends a lot of time following up
and mostly debunking them, finding everything
from mountain lion pictures from other states
to mistaken identity.
“We don’t have a reproducing population but
we potentially have some passing through,”
he says. “You would not believe the degree
to which people are hoaxing the system.”
we potentially have some passing through,”
he says. “You would not believe the degree
to which people are hoaxing the system.”
A marten with a radio collar descends a tree in this
photo taken by the New York Department of
Environmental Conservation. Martens are excelle
nt climbers, like their larger relative the fisher.
photo taken by the New York Department of
Environmental Conservation. Martens are excelle
nt climbers, like their larger relative the fisher.
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