Marten facts for kids
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Martes
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Martens are small, furry mammals. They belong to the weasel family, called Mustelidae. There are eight different types, or species, of martens. You can find them in the Northern Hemisphere. This includes places like North America, Canada, Europe, and Asia.
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About Martens
Martens are meat-eating animals, also known as carnivores. They mostly hunt for food at night. These animals have thin bodies and long, bushy tails. They also have short legs and pointed faces. Their fur is usually brown, with a lighter patch on their chest.
Where Martens Live
Martens love to live in forests. They are very good at climbing trees. This is because their claws can pull back, just like a cat's claws. This helps them grip branches easily.
What Martens Eat
Martens eat many different things. Their main diet includes small mammals. They hunt animals like squirrels, voles, mice, and rabbits. They also eat fish, insects, and eggs. Sometimes, they will eat fruits, especially berries, if they can find them.
Marten Habits
Martens prefer to live by themselves. They do not like other martens living too close to their space. They are often shy and secretive animals.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Martens usually meet to mate in the late spring or early summer. After mating, the female marten will have a litter of babies. She can have up to five babies at one time.
Baby Martens
Baby martens are called 'kits'. They are born in early spring. When kits are born, they are blind and have no fur. They need their mother to care for them until they are old enough to hunt on their own.
Related pages
See also
In Spanish: Martes (animal) para niños
