General Information: Martins (Martes americana), also called Pine Martins, are medium-sized weasels (size of a house cat). The head and body are 14-17 inches long, and the tail adds another 7-9 inches. The body is long and thin, and the legs are short. The fur is reddish or yellowish brown with a lighter patch on the throat and chest.

Taxonomy: Order Carnivora: Carnivores; Family Mustelidae, Weasels

Breeding: Breed in the summer and give birth in the spring.

Diet: Fishers are carnivores; they eat anything they can catch (e.g., mice, birds, and frogs) or find dead, but they really like tree squirrels, plus they eat fruit and berries when available.

Range: Martins are creatures of the great northern forest (taiga), but they extend south in the Rocky Mountains and in the Sierra-Cascade mountain ranges.

Where to Find: Don't look for Martins around Las Vegas. Rather, look for them in Canada and Alaska, or if you are really lucky in mountain ranges farther south. I've seen them in Yosemite and Sequoia national parks.

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