Experts plan to continue monitoring the fishing marten population using surveillance cameras and other methods.
Surveillance camera, installed in the forest near Morrisville in Pennsylvania, USA, took unique photos of an elusive predator - the ilka, also known as the fishing marten. This species has not been observed in the region since the end of the 19th century.
The fishing marten is a large omnivorous mammal from the marten family. Despite its name, it rarely feeds on fish, preferring to hunt rabbits, squirrels, mice, shrews, birds, cats, and even porcupines.
By the late 1800s, fishing martens had completely disappeared from Pennsylvania due to massive deforestation and uncontrolled hunting. However, in the early 1990s, conservation organizations reintroduced about 200 individuals of this species to the state.
The fishing marten population in Pennsylvania is slowly increasing, and new observations confirm the success of efforts to restore the species, according to scientists. The photos taken with the PixCams camera trap are important evidence that these predators are actively mastering their historic habitat.
About the fishing marten
- Scientific name: Pekania pennanti
- Dimensions: body length from 75 to 120 cm, weight up to 6 kg
- Ration: small mammals, birds, insects, fruits
- Environment: coniferous and mixed forests of North America