Skovmår

Did you know that although the wood marten is a predator, berries and fruits make up a large part of its food in the fall?

FOREST MARE

Family: The raccoon family 

Weight: Up to 2 kg

Lifestyle: Solitary and territorial. 

Diet: Primarily small rodents, birds and bird eggs

The wood marten is one of Denmark's totally protected species. Unlike the house marten, it must neither be hunted nor regulated. The wood marten is widespread in most of the country, with the exception of Bornholm and a few smaller islands. 

Two alike?

The wood marten is confusingly similar to its close relative, the house marten, but there are ways to tell the difference. The wood marten has a dark brown coat that is short and rough in summer, while the female marten is more furry. On the chest, the wood marten has a yellowish spot, which can vary between almost white and completely yolk-yellow. The house marten's spot is always white. The wood marten has longer legs than the house marten and is generally more lightly built. 

Rarely seen

The wood marten is a shy animal and usually does not move in open country. It lives in deciduous forests, coniferous forests and mixed forests. Often it builds its nest in old hollow trees. In addition to being shy of humans, the wood marten is also strongly territorial. Both males and females defend their own territory - however, the larger territory of the males often overlaps with the territory of several females. Males and females usually live alone and only meet during the mating season.

The wood marten has extended gestation. This means that even though mating takes place in June-August, pregnancy does not start until late winter. Typically, the young are born in April, when there is enough food left. The fertilized egg thus lies dormant throughout the autumn and only then does fetal development begin.