• Major, John Thomas
  University of Maine Graduate School
  

Summer habitat use by marten (Martes americana) was studied in an area of northern Maine where commercial clear-cutting was conducted 3-18 years ago. Four adult resident marten (3m:1F) were equipped with radio-collars. Information on habitat use was obtained from 1350 radio-locations. Marten were found to under utilize the regenerating clear-cuts most of the summer, although the availability of red raspberries (Rubus idaeus) as food was believed to be responsible for increased use of this habitat in late summer. Marten rely on the uncut softwood residual stands and partially-cut mixedwoods throughout the summer. The female studied was associated with one of the larger contiguous softwood blocks. Commercial clear-cutting, though not a recommended management practice for marten, can be compatible with the maintenance of a residual marten population if sufficient uncut and partially-cut softwoods and softwood-dominated mixedwoods are retained.