Game Commission puts hold on plan to reintroduce the American Marten
The Pennsylvania Game Commission decided to pause its plan to reintroduce the American marten until the results of scientific survey are in.
A proposal to make the plan available for public review was supposed to be discussed at a July Board of Commissioners meeting, but the board tabled the proposal until the results of a soon-to-be-conducted scientific survey. The survey will be conducted by the Virginia-based Responsive Management.
“Given that the survey is not yet completed, I believe it is appropriate that we table this issue at this time to allow for that survey to be completed and the results to be made available to the board and to the public,” said Kristen Schnepp-Giger, board ofcCommissioners president, in a news release.
Martens are about the size of an adult mink or fox squirrel, weight between 1 and 3 pounds and measure between 19 and 27 inches.
Martens were once commonly found in portions of Pennsylvania, but disappeared in the early 1900s as a result of deforestation and unregulated harvest practices.
