Fewer than 400 coastal martens remain in Oregon and California, with approximately 71 martens living in Oregon’s dunes.
Excerpt from this story from The Oregonian:
A national environmental nonprofit has asked a federal judge to protect threatened coastal martens from off-road vehicle events set for this summer in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.
The Center for Biological Diversity filed for a temporary injunction late last week, seeking to stop the U.S. Forest Service from issuing permits for the gatherings.
Coastal martens, also known as Humboldt martens, are small carnivorous mammals related to otters and weasels. Fewer than 400 coastal martens remain in four highly isolated populations in Oregon and California, with approximately 71 martens living in Oregon’s dunes.
The group argues that the noisy, multi-day events – including UTV Takeover held annually in Coos Bay in June and DuneFest held in Winchester Bay in late July – wreak havoc on the animals and their habitat during periods when marten kits are still dependent on their mothers. The events draw thousands of people and vehicles and feature races, sand camping, night rides and other activities.
Last May, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated 1.2 million acres of critical habitat in northwestern California and southwestern Oregon – including 28,843 acres in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (nearly the entire Oregon Dunes) – for martens.
Off-road vehicle use is allowed on designated routes and open riding areas established by the Forest Service in the Oregon dunes.
But it’s unclear why the U.S. Forest Service would continue to issue permits for large events despite the habitat designation, the center said. The federal agency declined to comment, citing the active litigation.
