PGC holding presentation on American marten reintroduction Saturday
The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) continues to move forward with its plan to reintroduce the American marten, which was extirpated from the state more than a century ago.
According to a release issued by the PGC, “the American marten was once a common native species that inhabited forested areas within the state. The marten, belonging to the mustelid family, is the same size as the American mink, having a similar length to a fox squirrel. Martens are true omnivores, eating a large diversity of mammals, plants, insects, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. The largest portion of their diet is made up of rodents, plant material, and insects.”
In an effort to provide the public with more information on American martens and the agency’s recently completed reintroduction feasibility assessment, the PGC is holding a series of presentations across the state. One of those presentations is scheduled for Elk County, and it will be held at the Elk Country Visitor Center in Benezette on Saturday, March 18 from 2-3:30 p.m.
Saturday’s presentation will be conducted by PGC Furbearer Biologist Thomas Keller.
“The American marten was once a common native species to Pennsylvania but was lost approximately 120 years ago due to deforestation and unregulated trapping,” Keller said. “The Pennsylvania Game Commission is currently evaluating the potential for reintroduction of this species, and as part of that process trying to educate the public through a variety of different mediums, including inperson presentations and open houses.”
Keller shared that his program on Saturday afternoon will include a variety of topics related to Pennsylvania wildlife in addition to its focus on the American marten.
“This program will focus on a broad range of topics, beginning with the historic perspective of wildlife in Pennsylvania, why we lost so many species, how we were able to restore many of them, and then what this new opportunity looks like,” Keller said. “We’ll dive into the results of the American Marten Reintroduction Feasibility Assessment, which includes topics such as habitat, diet, potential impacts to and from other species, and why this is an important decision to consider.”
The program is free and open to the public. Keller estimated that his presentation will last between 40-45 minutes, with an additional 15-20 minutes set aside for questions.
“This is open to everyone, and it’s important to remember that in Pennsylvania, wildlife belongs to the people, meaning all who call Pennsylvania home,” Keller said.
Keller added that the free programs, such as the one being held on Saturday, provide members of the public with an important opportunity to learn more about the American marten and the reintroduction project.
“We’re here to inform the public and help to educate on the facts behind this opportunity,” Keller said. “My hope for take away is that folks have a chance to hear the facts, hopefully dispel some of the misinformation that is circulating, and (attendees) can get their questions answered.”
According to Keystone Elk Country Alliance Conservation Education Coordinator Ben Porkolab, Saturday’s presentation will be held in the EM Jack & Jean Parker Outdoor Classroom, formerly known as the ECCO Building, at the Elk Country Visitor Center.
The space is large enough to accommodate a sizable crowd, and Porkolab expressed the hope that people will attend to learn more about the facts related to the potential reintroduction of the species before forming their own opinions.
“The reason why I think it’s so important for Tom to be here and provide this is people right away speculate different things depending on their opinions of what they know. I think it would be good for anybody that is an outdoorsman, before they jump to conclusions about whether this is a good thing or a bad thing in their opinion, I think it would be best for them to come learn more about the species and more about how it may affect other wildlife species and/or habitat if this were to take place,” Porkolab said. “It’s a hot topic, and a lot of people jump to conclusions before knowing all the facts. This is an opportunity for anybody that cares to learn the facts.”
Additional information related to the American marten and the PGC’s reintroduction plan can be found on the agency’s website at https://www. pgc.pa.gov/Wildlife/ WildlifeSpecies/Pages/ American-Marten-. aspx.