MOVEMENTS OF MARTENS, MARTES-AMERICANA, IN BURNED AND UNBURNED TAIGA IN THE MACKENZIE VALLEY, NORTHWEST-TERRITORIES

Home range sizes and use of burned and unburned taiga by Martens (Martes americana) were determined in the Mackenzie Valley, Northwest Territories. Seventeen radio-marked Martens were radio-tracked an average of 8.5 (+/- 1.3 SE) months and relocated an average of 18 +/- 3.0 times. The minimum density of Martens, including juveniles, was 1 per 6.4 km2. Mean home range size (100% minimum convex polygon) of adults was 11.1 +/- 2.5 km2 (n = 12) and home ranges of adult males (14.2 km2 +/- 3.6, n = 7) were twice that of adult females (6.8 km2 +/- 2.3, n = 5). These ranges were large compared to those reported from other areas in North America. Eleven of 12 adult Martens had home ranges that averaged 53 +/- 9% burned forest (21-year-old burn). Six adults radio-tracked for greater-than-or-equal-to 6 months used the burn less than expected and the unburned forest more than expected; this trend held for both winter and summer.