A plan to reintroduce a native species of weasel in Pennsylvania is on hold, for now.
The American Marten disappeared from the commonwealth around 1900 according to the Game Commission and officials have been working on the plan since 2022 to bring it back.
However, Furbearer Biologist Tom Keller said the Game Commission needs more time due to a split decision.
“Primary concerns revolved around a hunter’s survey that was completed and in the hunter’s survey, what we saw was about 37 percent support, 32 percent opposed and then 31 percent, more neutral and so they were most concerned about the neutral portion,” said Keller.
The American Marten is a long, slender-bodied weasel about the size of a mink with relatively large, rounded ears, short limbs and a bushy tail.