Phew. It was a bit of a marathon getting this one together. :) But I enjoyed every minute. I'd intended to go for a nice old-growth hike today as a reward for finishing, but the thermometer climbed pretty fast this morning so I've decided to try for first thing tomorrow morning with a plan to be back home before we get into the high 90s again.
First, thanks for this glorious education on Humboldt Martens! Also, I totally forgot about Brian Doyle’s novels other than Mink River (that was my “books that made us,” I love it so much). Also, fuck dune buggies. 🤬
So delightful to discover the Humboldt martens and their place in the forest environment. Another of the countless creatures on the brink that deserve our attention and action - thank you for your role in this. And thanks too for the mentions, and especially for…”the softest shush of a marten’s satin fur as she slinks into the huckleberry patch!” I’m sure I felt that shush.
Great article, Rebecca. I recently read an article in the news about the further protections put forth in Oregon for them. Knowing that you had a lot to do with this, makes it even better. Good work and thank you!
That's a good piece. That little dunes population of the martens is so strange ... it seems they keep trying to disperse from it to potentially "better" habitat across the highway, which would be more traditional coast range forests ... and yet they are hanging on in the dunes. I know there's a group from OSU looking specifically at that dunes sub-population for clues about what this mysterious little species needs to survive. I'll be interested in following their results as they continue to be published.
Wonderful. Thank you for the shoutout to Martin Marten, a book which never makes it back to my bookshelf. I need a big fat wrinkle in time to read these publications and books!
Wonderful, wonderful issue, Rebecca!
Thanks, Michael. Hope you are well and staying cool. Not as bad this week, is it, the heat?
No, not as bad up here, although some forecasts have us skirting 100° tomorrow.. That really was a great issue- you worked hard and we thank you!
Phew. It was a bit of a marathon getting this one together. :) But I enjoyed every minute. I'd intended to go for a nice old-growth hike today as a reward for finishing, but the thermometer climbed pretty fast this morning so I've decided to try for first thing tomorrow morning with a plan to be back home before we get into the high 90s again.
Can't wait for Autumn!
Thanks for a great post, Rebecca, and for all you do for nature writers on Substack. Interesting to learn about the Humboldt Martens.
First, thanks for this glorious education on Humboldt Martens! Also, I totally forgot about Brian Doyle’s novels other than Mink River (that was my “books that made us,” I love it so much). Also, fuck dune buggies. 🤬
Right?! Stupid dune buggies. So loud, so destructive. I’ve been meaning to read Mink River.
It’s a treasure.
So delightful to discover the Humboldt martens and their place in the forest environment. Another of the countless creatures on the brink that deserve our attention and action - thank you for your role in this. And thanks too for the mentions, and especially for…”the softest shush of a marten’s satin fur as she slinks into the huckleberry patch!” I’m sure I felt that shush.
Great article, Rebecca. I recently read an article in the news about the further protections put forth in Oregon for them. Knowing that you had a lot to do with this, makes it even better. Good work and thank you!
I really enjoyed reading about this lovely little marten, let's hope that it can be properly conserved and be enabled to thrive.
Lovely work, Rebecca.
I recalled this essay on the Humboldt Marten's coastal population from Hakai Magazine:
https://hakaimagazine.com/features/trapped-between-pavement-and-the-pacific/
What's fascinating is that gorse is an invasive species yet is the key to the martens' survival in the dunes.
That's a good piece. That little dunes population of the martens is so strange ... it seems they keep trying to disperse from it to potentially "better" habitat across the highway, which would be more traditional coast range forests ... and yet they are hanging on in the dunes. I know there's a group from OSU looking specifically at that dunes sub-population for clues about what this mysterious little species needs to survive. I'll be interested in following their results as they continue to be published.
https://www.hcn.org/issues/52-11/north-covid19-how-a-pandemic-related-drop-in-oregon-lottery-revenues-could-lead-to-a-rise-in-invasive-plants/
Then there was this piece about the downsides of gorse! It's complicated.
Rebecca, this is very impressive & I thank you so much for the shoutout. May our voices become a din/ a roar / a screech.
Omg let's please ban dune buggies!
Srsly
Grateful for your sharing the Humboldt martens' story with us
Wonderful. Thank you for the shoutout to Martin Marten, a book which never makes it back to my bookshelf. I need a big fat wrinkle in time to read these publications and books!
This was lovely to read!
Thank you so much! I now know about the Humboldt Marten.