marten under careful management may be several times its present 

 level. As a result of overtrapping in past years, many areas of suit- 

 able habitat now support very few or no marten. 



In addition, extensive burned areas on which regeneration of 

 forest cover has progressed to a stage suitable for utilization by 

 marten are being considered for restoration through a transplanting 

 program. Areas of these types are being investigated and evaluated 

 as transplant sites. 



A long-range investigation of marten living requirements based 

 on live trapping was undertaken in cooperation with the Montana 

 Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit to supply information essential 

 to a sound management plan. Successful methods of trapping, hand- 

 ling and marking marten were developed and much useful information 

 has resulted from the application of these methods. In addition, the 

 study of marked marten will determine whether the National 

 Parks and larger game preserves in Montana contribute significantly 

 to surrounding populations. 



Unregulated distribution of trappers in the 1950-51 and 1951-52 

 marten season resulted in severe reduction of marten populations in 

 some accessible areas while remote areas remained untrapped. This 

 situation, coupled with a marked decline in the price of marten pelts, 

 necessitated closed seasons during the past two years. 



Marten are not as prolific as muskrats nor as wary as mink; 

 therefore, the proper manipulation of trapping pressure is of especial 

 importance. It is hoped that an aggressive program of transplanting 

 followed by application of a sound management plan will bring 

 marten populations to the point where a sustained annual harvest 

 may be taken. 



WOLVERINE 



Information on the distribution and status of the wolverine was 

 collected during the bienium in cooperation with the Department of 



-i.:^ 



One of the nation's rarest wildlife species is the wolverine which was con- 

 sidered near extinction in Montana lor many years. 



— 38 — 



