Females, considered to be more vulnerable to resource perturbations, had lower survival rates and males higher rates during late winter 1987 than during the disease epizootic. Marten of all ages avoided clear-cuts during logging operations and for the first nine months afterward. However, resident kits were 2.6 times and adults 8.3 times more likely to use habitats other than clear-cuts. The decline in prey abundance resulted in several changes in marten movement and spacing behaviors. Intrasexual home range overlap by residents was eliminated.
All female residents present before the prey decline either died or abandoned their home ranges.
The ratio of transients to resident numbers increased. Recolonization of vacated habitats was slower, and duration of dispersal for females increased. Intruder pressure and mating access appeared to play little role in the observed changes in social spacing. The decline in marten numbers during and after the prey decline appeared to have been partially affected by changes in spacing behaviors. Old-growth were less dense, offering more canopy openings.