American Marten Habitat Suitability in the Northeastern United States

David Mandell^1,* and Michael E. Akresh¹

¹Antioch University New England, Keene, NH 03431. *Corresponding author.

Northeastern Naturalist, Volume 33, Issue 4 (2026): 485–500

First published early online: 14 October 2026

Abstract
Martes americana (American Marten, hereinafter Marten) formerly occupied much of the northeastern US, but their range has contracted dramatically since European colonization due to exploitation, habitat destruction, and climate change. Future reintroductions of the Marten could restore them to sections of their former distribution, but research is needed to determine which parts of their former range are still suitable given current climatic and vegetative conditions. To determine the species’ current habitat suitability in the northeastern US, we created habitat-suitability models using variables and suitability scores derived from a literature review. We also used presence-only data to evaluate the models using Boyce indices and determine threshold values for habitat suitability. We found that predicted habitat extends across much of the Marten’s former range, including north-central Pennsylvania, the Catskills of New York, western Massachusetts, and West Virginia. Many areas of predicted habitat are poorly connected to areas with current Marten populations, complicating natural recolonization. We discuss potential strategies for recolonization, including manual reintroductions, improving landscape connectivity, and enhancing habitat quality by conducting forest management.

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