American Marten (Martes americana) and Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) simultaneously attack Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)

Author(s)

Brent Graves, bgraves@nmu.eduFollow
Suzanne M. Petschke

Journal Title/Source

The Canadian Field Naturalist

Publication Date

2022

Volume

136

Issue (if applicable)

4

Page Numbers

361-363

DOI (if applicable)

https://doi. org/10.22621/cfn.v136i4.3005

Document Type

Journal Article

Department

Biology

Comments

A Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) was observed following an American Marten (Martes americana). The marten’s attempts to capture a Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) forced the squirrel into the open where the goshawk repeatedly attempted to capture it as the marten chased it through the trees. Attacks on prey flushed by heterospecific predators have been reported for a few other raptors, but this type of interaction has not been reported previously for either goshawks or martens.

Recommended Citation

Graves, B.M., and S.M. Petschke. 2022. American Marten (Martes americana) and Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) simultaneously attack Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). Canadian Field-Naturalist 136(4): 361–363. https://doi. org/10.22621/cfn.v136i4.3005