Atlas der Säugetiere Nordrhein-Westfalens

Steinmarder

1644 entries

Beech marten

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Martes foina

The Beech Marten is a mid-sized marten, which as a commensal species occurs in a variety of human living spaces. It resembles the Pine Marten with respect to body shape and also in colouration. However, in contrast to the latter it is coloured a cold brown with a grey-white underfur, which shines through on the back and on the flanks. The ears are a little bit smaller. Beech Martens generally have an expansive white throat patch which stretches onto the front legs.
Beech Martens are food generalists, which hunt a broad spectrum of prey animals, from young birds via small mammals, amphibians to invertebrates. They are also known for their visits in the chicken coop. Depending on the season Beech Martens also eat fruit. They are almost exclusively active at night.

Beech Martens occur predominantly in the area of human settlements. Often they inhabit stables, barns and attics, where they attract attention through nocturnal noise and their droppings.
In North Rhine-Westphalia the Beech Marten is widely distributed and common, even though its presence often goes unnoticed due to its nocturnal lifestyle. There are practically no habitats where Beech Martens don′t occur; even deep in the forest they are hunting at night and share the habitat with the related Pine Marten.

Author

Jan Ole Kriegs

Citation

Kriegs JO (2024): Steinmarder (Martes_foina).In: AG Säugetierkunde NRW — Online-Atlas of the mammals of North Rhine-Westphalia. Downloaded from saeugeratlas-nrw.lwl.org on 2024/12/21