Burrowing Marten

== Description ==
Burrowing martens are fast, agile creatures which live in the coniferous forests of northern Deurlyth, Elterlein and Volvar. They have bushy tails, and their large paws and partially retractable claws are well-suited to digging underground burrows. Their fur can vary, but most often the majority of their fur is white or gray with brown underbellies. Alternatively, they may have a yellowish-brown or brown coat; these varieties live along the northernmost rivers.
== Diet ==
Martens are mainly predatory animals which hunt small game: mainly squirrels, rabbits, fish, mice, and insects. They supplement their diet with berries.
== Behavior ==
From a young age, burrowing martens play roughhousing games amongst themselves. Playful biting, wrestling, ambushing, and springing onto one another are common, and these techniques help them to practice hunting game which may be larger than themselves.
As their name suggests, martens spend a good deal of their time underground. In the months of Deep Cold, an overwhelming majority of a burrowing marten's time is spent in the burrows it digs. These areas are excavated well before the arrival of Deep Cold, and a family of martens will usually huddle together for warmth. During these times they slow their metabolism and take turns hunting.
As of late, more martens can be seen in urban areas. They can cause distress when they break into homes and tear up places looking for warmth and shelter. They even have a tendency to kill and eat smaller dogs and cats. Attempts to make a burrowing marten a pet almost always go poorly, as they are not well suited for being contained and will frequently lash out at those who try to touch them.
== Myths ==
Burrowing martens can be found in several older stories. They are typically creatures of cunning and deception, though the tales vary. In some stories, burrowing martens lure children with promises of wealth and then eat the children in their burrows. Other times, they may be protagonists who use cleverness to avoid becoming eaten themselves by animals higher on the food chain, like wolves.
Category:Browse
Category:Fauna