To describe the forest mosaic suitable for marten (Martes americana) in a c
learcut boreal landscape, we studied habitat selection in an area (123 km(2
)) located in western Quebec, in which black spruce (Picea mariana) was the
predominant forest type. This block had been recently clearcut with the pr
otection of regeneration cutting technique, a logging method that employs e
qually spaced harvesting trails. The resulting landscape had a center domin
ated by a cutover matrix (60% of the block) and surrounded by contiguous un
cut forest. Over 2 years, 20 marten equipped with radio collars provided en
ough locations to delineate their winter home range. Habitat composition an
d spatial configuration were measured at both stand and landscape scales by
means of a geographic information system database that included telemetry
locations and home ranges, forest maps, and limits of clearcut areas. Insid
e their winter home ranges, animals avoided open regenerating stands compos
ed mostly of recent clearcuts with sparse regeneration. They did not select
coniferous stands, even those that were mature or overmature, but preferre
d deciduous and mixed stands, a large proportion of which had a dense conif
erous shrub layer as a result of a spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana
) epidemic 15-20 years ago. At the landscape scale, winter home ranges diff
ered from random mosaics because they had a larger proportion of uncut fore
st (>30 years), a smaller proportion of open regenerating stands, larger co
re area in forest habitat, and less edge between open regenerating stands a
nd forest. Winter home ranges usually contained <30-35% open or closed rege
nerating stands and >40-50% uncut forest. We conclude that marten and clear
cutting may be compatible, provided that forest logging is adapted to that
species at the landscape level. Where the objective is to maintain marten a
t a local scale in black spruce forest, we suggest that greater than or equ
al to 50% uncut forest be preserved inside 10-km(2) units and that <30% of
the area be clearcut over a 30-year period.