Four male and 8 female captive pine martens Martes americana (Turton, 1806) were observed for signs of mating. Behavioural changes associated with the breeding season began in mid-June. Subjective observation indicated that the frequency of abdominal scent marking and body contact between males and females increased from June through July and decreased during August. Aggression between females increased markedly during the breeding season. The animals emitted diverse vocalizations, including a throaty chuckle that was associated with breeding and that was indistinguishable by observers from a call emitted when females appeared to be consoling young kits. Copulation was observed on 4 occasions during July in one pair of martens, and was typical of that described for Martes species in general. Two individual copulatory acts were timed and lasted 5 and 14.5 min, respectively. The female appeared to control the timing and duration of copulation and seemed in one instance to actively solicit the attention of the male.
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