Pine Marten

Pine Martens belong to the Mustelidae family, along with stoats, weasels, ferrets, polecats and otters. They have a similar look to these species and are about the size of a cat, with round ears, a long tail and a yellow throat. Males are around a third bigger than females. Their fur is dark brown, but in winter becomes thicker and turns lighter brown. Pine Martens are extremely agile and excellent climbers. They use their long bushy tail for balance and large claws and thick fur on the soles of their feet, give them grip to climb up tree trunks with ease.

Pine Martens eat a wide range of food, from birds, insects and small mammals like voles, grey squirrels and rabbits, to fungi, berries and eggs.

Pine Martens take their name from their habitat, spending most of their time in woodland, preferably in pine trees. They will also live in scrub, rocky areas and crags.

The Pine Marten was the second most common carnivore in Britain during the Mesolithic era. Woodland clearance and predator control, has had a devastating effect on the Pine Marten population. By 1915 this species was confined to just a few remote areas of Britain and Ireland.

The Pine Marten population today, is expanding in number and range in Scotland and Ireland. In England and Wales the population has not recovered. In England, Pine Martens have now been recorded in Shropshire and the New Forest, with occasional records coming from the Lake District, Northumberland and the North York Moors.