FIRE EFFECTS AND USE
WILDLIFE SPECIES: Martes americana | American Marten 



DIRECT FIRE EFFECTS ON ANIMALS : 
American martens could be trapped in a rapidly spreading, intense fire. However,
direct fire mortality probably has little effect on the population as a
whole.


HABITAT RELATED FIRE EFFECTS : 
Fires that completely consume the understory and/or reduce the canopy
closure to less than 30 percent are detrimental to American marten populations in
the short-term.  However, fires that create a mosaic of diverse habitats
provide the best cover for American marten and their prey in the long-term.
Marten populations tend to increase several decades after fire as
adequate food and cover are replaced [11,12,20].  Koehler and others
[12] suggested that low-intensity fires on mesic sites where canopy
cover is maintained at greater than 30 percent may not adversely affect
American marten habitat.


FIRE USE : 
Prescribed fire can be used to create a diversity of forest communities,
which, over time, may support more American marten.  Fire can create and maintain
openings where abundant fruits, insects, ground squirrels, and voles
provide summer food.  Smaller burns may be more beneficial because they
are less restrictive to American marten movement in winter, and cover is
reestablished more quickly.  Islands of climax forest containing logs,
stumps, and slash for denning should always be maintained.  Islands of
forest should be no farther apart than 55 yards (50 m) [11,12].


REFERENCES : 
NO-ENTRY

Related categories for Wildlife Species: Martes americana | American Marten