After decades of mystery surrounding its existence, a rare animal once believed to be extinct has been confirmed on remote trail cameras in northern California, offering a thrilling sign of wildlife resilience. Scientists say the coastal marten — a small carnivorous mammal that nearly vanished from the state — was captured in recent footage and DNA samples collected via hair snares, validating that wild populations still persist in the region. The discovery has brought renewed hope for the species and underlines the value of modern conservation tools.
Once targeted nearly to extinction during the 20th-century fur trade, coastal martens were long feared gone from their historic territories, including parts of Oregon and California. The new trail camera evidence confirms that these elusive creatures are still roaming — surprising scientists and animal lovers alike.
Rediscovery Through Trail Cameras and DNA
Researchers from Oregon State University (OSU) conducted an extensive multi-year study that combined remote trail cameras and genetic analysis from hair snare samples to locate the martens. The study focused on an approximately 150-square-mile area east of Klamath, California, where scientists monitored wildlife for three months. Using trail cameras to trigger images and tape-and-wire snares to collect fur, researchers were able to both photograph and genetically confirm multiple individuals of this rare species.
The detailed data revealed 46 individual martens — including 28 males and 18 females — scattered across parts of the study area. The animals showed a preference for forested ridgetops with winter snowpack as well as ravines and riparian zones at lower elevations, suggesting still suitable habitat remains in these rugged landscapes.
Coastal Martens: A Species Fighting for Survival
Coastal martens, also known as Humboldt martens, once numbered far more abundantly in West Coast forests before intense trapping and habitat destruction decimated their ranks. While rediscoveries in the late 1990s hinted they may still exist, scientists have had limited ability to study their numbers and movement patterns — until now…