With a face like this, it’s small wonder that the Newfoundland marten has been called “Nature’s cutest carnivore. As the animal’s status is “threatened,” the provincial government has made it illegal to use stainless steel snaring ware. That type of wire was apparently responsible for the deaths of several of the animals recently and the province is calling on hunters and trappers to be aware of the dangers to marten from that wire, which is now illegal.

Snaring small game like snowshoe hares and partridge is a popular activity for many Newfoundland hunters and trappers.

But one can't use just any kind of wire. If you're not careful, you could end up with one of Newfoundland's threatened species in your snare.

That's the Newfoundland marten, which can be found in the west coast and central regions, notably the Red Indian Lake area, of the province.

Several of them have ended up dead because of illegal snaring wire. As a result, the Department of Environment and Conservation is reminding hunters and trappers about the small game snaring requirements.

Only 22 gauge brass wire or six strand picture cord may be used for the purpose of snaring small game such as snowshoe hare, ptarmigan and grouse on the island portion where snaring is permitted during the open season. Wire types like stainless steel can't be used. The Newfoundland marten was considered endangered because of the small number on the island, approximately 300 at one time. Intensive conservation efforts have helped move the animal's status up to "threatened."

"There are lots of things on the go to encourage the marten population to increase, such as the introduction of red-back vole as a food source," said small game management biologist Chris Callahan, with the Department of Environment and Conservation's wildlife division. "I'm sure our recent changes in snare wire is helping the population."

There is a province-wide ban on stainless steel. Mr. Callahan said the other types of wire have been tested and allow marten to be released if they're captured.

The Newfoundland marten, described on one web site as "nature's cutest carnivore," certainly lives up to that description, with its big ears, bright puppy-dog eyes and soft, sleek brown fur. However trapping for its fur and destruction of its habitat over the centuries resulted in the species' population becoming dangerously low.

Marten in general are numerous throughout North America, but the Newfoundland marten is a subspecies of the American marten. It is genetically distinct from its mainland cousin at it developed in isolation on the island part of the province during the last ice age.

For small game hunting and snaring, regulations, hunters and trappers should refer to the 2009-2010 Hunting and Trapping Guide, available online at the government website at http://www.env.gov.nl.ca/env/wildlife/publications/200910%20hunting%20trapping%20guide.pdf.

The guide is also available at Department of Natural Resources and Department of Environment and Conservation offices throughout the province.