The Pennsylvania Game Commission is again pausing a plan for the return of a native furbearer once common to certain areas in Pennsylvania.
Last week the Game Commission’s Board of Commissioners considered enacting a carefully researched 10-year strategy for reintroduction and management of the American marten but decided to table the move by a vote of six to three until they understand the results of a survey of hunters.
The majority of the public was in support of the plan but a survey of hunters with nearly 9,000 responses revealed that just over a third supported, just under a third opposed, and about that same number were neutral. The Commission plans to continue to work with concerned hunters while also making sure that the current climate of the state would support the martens.
These creatures are about the same size as a mink and disappeared from the state around 100 years ago as a result of deforestation and unregulated harvest. After completing a feasibility assessment for reintroduction, the Bureau determined that there is sufficient habitat for the marten without negatively impacting other species.
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