Cross country skiiing came across these tracks, which were rather unusual. I am used to seeing deer, coyote, fix, otter, squirrel, rabbit and rare bobcat tracks, but these were different.
They might be the tracks of the pine marten. In 2009 there was an attempt by the Little Traverse Band of Odawa Indians to re establish the pine marten in the lower penninsula of Michigan. The most recent studies in 2012 felt the population was not spreading. The counties they were released to were south and east of my county.
Pine marten have an 8 square mile territory, and like old pine forests with lots of downed trees. That well describes my region. They eat small rodents and gray squirrels, so there is ample food supply.
My new quest is to actually see the beautiful creature. A good reason to keep skiing.
