Conservation status of American martens and fishers in the Klamath-Siskiyou bioregion
| Authors: | Keith M. Slauson, Bill Zielinski |
| Year: | 2004 |
| Type: | Scientific Journal |
| Station: | Pacific Southwest Research Station |
| Source: | In: Merganther, ; Williams, K. J.; Jules, E., editors. 2004. Proceedings of the 2nd Conference on Klamath-Siskiyou Ecology. Siskiyou Field Institute, 29-31 May 2003, Cave Junction, Oregon, USA: p. 60-70 |
Abstract
The American marten (Martes americana) was historically distributed within coastal and high elevation fir fore sts of the Klamath Siskiyou Bioregion (KSB) and was represented by three recognized subspecies (M. a. caurina, M. a. sierrae, and M. a. humboldtensis). The fisher (Martes pennanti pacifica) was historically distributed throughout interior and near-coast forests of the KSB. Over the last 8 years we have conducted systematic surveys, using baited track plate stations, at 497 locations within the KSB, resulting in >35,000 days of survey effort. Survey results demonstrate that martens are absent from portions of their historical range, with the most severe loss within the range of the Humboldt marten. Martens are absent from areas of the historical range of M. a. caurina on the Siskiyou National Forest. The status of M. a. sierrae within the Salmon and Marble mountains is uncertain. The fisher remains well distributed within most of its historical distribution within the KSB, but its status north of Highway 199 is uncertain. Conservation of marten populations will require protection of areas currently occupied and evaluation of whether strategic restoration of additional habitat is warranted. The population of fishers within the KSB represents the largest native fisher population within the western U.S. and has substantial potential to contribute to fisher restoration to adjacent bioregions. Maintenance and restoration of functional landscape connectivity from the KSB to adjacent bioregions to the North and East currently lacking native fisher populations will be critical for fishers to recolonize them.