A marten is a weasel-like mammal in the genus Martes within the subfamily Guloninae, in the family Mustelidae.
In winter, the soles of a marten’s feet are covered with fur and the toes are not distinguishable in the tracks.
There are several species of martens worldwide and perhaps the most famous is the Russian sable, which is well known for its luxurious fur.
It is thought that martens entered North America from Asia about 60 000 years ago.
The Mustelidae family also includes several other more familiar animals such as the ermine, skunk, and mink.
Males are the larger sex and weigh about 1 000 g, whereas females weigh about 650 g.
During winter, the marten has a beautiful dark brown fur coat and a bright orange throat patch.
It is similar in size to a small cat but has shorter legs, a more slender body, a bushy tail, and a pointed face.