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Marten on Isle Royale

Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2018 7:56 am
by johnhens

Re: Marten on Isle Royale

Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2018 8:20 am
by Ingo
Curious what's more likely: they crossed 16+ miles of ice or humans brought them over in the 90s (intentionally or not--although I'm not sure how hitching a ride would work). I'm inclined to lean toward the human explanation without any knowledge or evidence that martens may take that long of hike over ice. In any case the DNA analysis is fascinating.

Re: Marten on Isle Royale

Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2018 8:24 am
by johnhens
I am glad they are looking at the population now. It will be interesting to see how the population does when the wolves are brought back.

Re: Marten on Isle Royale

Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2018 12:03 pm
by hooky
That's around the same time that the old grey guy came over. It seems like the ice crossing is a reasonable explanation. I did find it interesting that they were going to reintroduce them in the 60's, but nobody really knows if it happened or not.

In 2012, we shared the boat out to the island with one of the researcher's family and then he joined them on the boat back to Houghton. His daughter (10-11 years old) knew more about Pine Martens than I would have thought possible for someone that age. She talked our ears off about them over a game of Crazy 8's.

Re: Marten on Isle Royale

Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2018 8:45 am
by johnhens
Ingo wrote: Fri Aug 24, 2018 8:20 am Curious what's more likely: they crossed 16+ miles of ice or humans brought them over in the 90s (intentionally or not--although I'm not sure how hitching a ride would work). I'm inclined to lean toward the human explanation without any knowledge or evidence that martens may take that long of hike over ice. In any case the DNA analysis is fascinating.
I was reading an article in Lake Superior about Martens and they discussed the Marten coming accross an ice bridge in '91. 2 would have to come across to make a population. In the article their preference for wooded areas would seem to preclude a long crossing over ice.