Next Steps to Reintroduce the American Marten into Pennsylvania

The American Marten was a long-time native resident to Pennsylvania prior to extirpation soon after the turn of the 20th century.  Now the Pennsylvania Game Commission is seeking to return this iconic species of the forest to Penn's Woods!

Find out what you can do to help below!

Where could the American Marten be reintroduced in Pennsylvania?
The "American Marten Reintroduction and Management Plan for Pennsylvania" proposes a few locations for reintroduction (see image below), including areas within the PA Wilds and Allegheny National Forest.

Some of these sites fall within wilderness areas. The USFS describes Wilderness Areas as “A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain” (USDA 1964) 

Two ways you can help the American Marten be reintroduced in PA 

#1) Email your comments of support for the plan and of reintroduction to: [email protected]

#2) Attend the Board of Commissioner’s meeting on January 27th; this will be the absolute most important meeting to attend! Attend and provide your testimony, whether it’s a single sentence or 5 minutes long.  A massive presence will make a huge difference.  The plan will tentatively be voted on that day.  The Meeting is at our HQ at 2001, Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, PA 17110.  Arrival should be 7:45 AM.

Items for review:

• Marten Story Map
• Marten Reintroduction and Management Plan
• Marten Reintroduction and Management Plan Synthesis
• Marten Reintroduction Feasibility Assessment
• Marten Reintroduction Feasibility Assessment Synthesis
• Marten Website 

​