Fire Effects on Marten Habitat in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness
- 1 July 1977
- journal article
- research article
- Published by JSTOR in The Journal of Wildlife Management
- Vol. 41 (3) , 500-505
- https://doi.org/10.2307/3800522
Abstract
This investigation in the Selway-Bitterroot wilderness of northcentral Idaho [USA] evaluated the effects of fire on marten (Martes americana) habitats and food sources. Voles (Microtinae) were the most abundant item in the diet, occurring in 79% of 129 marten scats. These were most abundant in mesic habitats. A total of 2896 trap days during Nov. 1973-March 1974 and Nov. and Dec. 1974 resulted in 80 captures of 13 marten and 255 track observations. Martens used a variety of forest types. The highest activity when snow depths were normal was in stands having an Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmanni) and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) overstory, a canopy cover greater than 30%, a mesic habitat type, and on overstory age greater than 100 yr. The effects of fire on marten habitat and foods are discussed.This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit:
- Fire and the Decline of a Mountain Caribou HerdThe Journal of Wildlife Management, 1954