Marten (Martes americana), roadkill, AB

Yet another victim of traffic just inside the Eastern entrance of Banff National Park. Fences line most of highway through the park, but for some animals that does not work. The marten (also called pine marten and american sable) is a ferocious solitary hunter, but is small enough to not be hindered by the fences.

Martens eat rodents, birds and their eggs, berries and insects and are in turn hunted by their fellow weasel family member the fisher, but also by wolves, lynx and great horned owl. Though their long bodies with relatively short legs may make them seem rather awkward, they can move with surprising speed. Their speed in trees rivals that of prey like flying squirrels and red squirrels, and these hunts can take a long time, with both animals making spectacular moves around trunks at high altitude and long jumps from one tree to the other.

Martens are relatively common in this area, but they are seldom seen. Unfortunately this is the only one I have seen so far...

Image number: ASP8629AWMC