BLACKDUCK — A pine marten lived to see another day after a trapper in northern Beltrami County gave it mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
The small mammal was accidentally caught in a bobcat trap recently, and the trapper called the DNR to report the out-of-season catch.
The animal was still alive but not moving.
The trapper then performed rescue CPR on the marten, which revived the animal.
A DNR conservation officer based in Blackduck saw video footage of the rescue and was there when the creature returned to the wild.
Fisher and pine martens may be trapped in Northern Minnesota, but only for a short time at the end of November and early December.
Bobcat trapping season ends Sunday, Jan. 7.
In his report on the incident, the officer commended the trapper for the extreme lengths he took to save the pine marten.
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