Marten move weighed for Belt Mountains area

HELENA — State wildlife managers want to study whether to transplant pine martens into the Belt Mountains of central Montana.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks plans to ask the Fish and Wildlife Commission to begin formally evaluating the possibility.

The proposal would go before the commission April 10.

If approved, the state would conduct an environmental assessment with input from the public.

The proposal states that the Belt Mountains appear to have the right kind of habitat to support a self-sustaining population. It says martens are unlikely to establish themselves there on their own because the mountains are isolated from areas where they currently live.

It would be first relocation of pine martens in Montana in more than 50 years.