Latest news with #pineMartens
The Independent
09-07-2025
- General
- The Independent
Pine marten kits spotted in national park for first time in 100 years
Pine martens reintroduced to Dartmoor have successfully bred, with camera-trap footage confirming the presence of young kits scampering through the woodland. This marks a significant milestone for conservation efforts, as it is the first time the species has bred in the South West of England in over a century. Conservationists involved in the project said they were "ecstatic" to witness the reintroduced animals successfully reproduce. The breeding success follows the release of 15 pine martens – eight females and seven males – at undisclosed locations across Dartmoor in autumn 2024. This reintroduction is a key part of a broader initiative to restore the species to the region. Historically, pine martens were common across the South West, but their populations suffered drastically due to the destruction of their woodland habitats and human persecution. The Two Moors Pine Marten Project partnership, a collaborative effort, alongside its dedicated local volunteers, has invested hundreds of hours into tracking the cat-sized animals, establishing den boxes, and checking camera traps to monitor their progress and activities. Two films show young pine martens, known as kits, exploring their new Devon home, with one clip revealing three kits chasing each other through leaves and up a bank in a Dartmoor woodland. Another showed a mother and two kits running along a fallen tree close to a stream. Experts said female pine martens usually give birth to two or three kits in spring, with youngsters spending their first seven to eight weeks hidden in dens before emerging in early summer, and sticking with their mothers until the following spring. The conservationists behind the project said the population in the South West should now grow gradually over coming years, and the team is preparing for a further release of pine martens at secret locations in Exmoor this autumn. 'When our volunteers discovered the footage of pine marten kits on one of our trail cameras we were ecstatic,' Devon Wildlife Trust's Tracey Hamston, who leads the Two Moors Pine Marten Project, said. 'This is a historic moment for the return of a native animal and for the future of the South West's woodlands. 'To have breeding pine martens back after a century's absence signals a positive step in nature's recovery. 'It's also testament to the many hours work undertaken by the project partnership and dozens of local volunteers.' Jack Hunt, Woodland Trust assistant site manager for Devon, said staff and volunteers have been checking camera traps for several months, and over the past few weeks had been 'eagerly anticipating' spotting kits on the films. 'This sighting is wonderful news. 'The work over many years to restore and improve the condition of our woodlands, to support other landowners to do the same and work in partnership on this project has culminated in the return of the pine marten born in its natural environment in Dartmoor, the first of many and the beginning of the return of this missing species.' The partnership involves Dartmoor National Park Authority, Devon Wildlife Trust, Exmoor National Park Authority, Forestry England, National Trust, Somerset Wildlife Trust and Woodland Trust, backed by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and supported by the Vincent Wildlife Trust.
Telegraph
18-06-2025
- Science
- Telegraph
How red squirrels are fighting back against their grey cousins
Red squirrels are staging a comeback after being eliminated by their grey cousins, a study has suggested. A resurgence in pine martens, the natural predator of squirrels, has had a greater impact on the greys, which are not native to the British Isles and do not know to fear them. Red squirrels, which evolved alongside pine martens for centuries, can easily avoid the predators and become more wary when one is nearby, the study found, making the 'predator naive' greys easier prey. The reds have started to thrive as a result, despite increasing numbers of wild squirrel hunters. Red squirrels are native to the UK but have suffered significant population decline in recent decades because of the arrival of the larger grey variety from the US in the late 19th century. They have been reduced to small populations in parts of the British countryside such as Scotland, Anglesey and the Isle of Wight as their shared habitat was overtaken by greys, which are indiscriminate in what they eat and able to reproduce at a faster rate. Decline of pine martens Pine martens have also suffered a catastrophic population decline in recent decades, but efforts to protect, reintroduce and nurture the species in Britain and Ireland has assisted red squirrels. The study by the University of Galways laid wildlife cameras around the Irish countryside to monitor activity at feeding sites and discovered that red squirrels become wary in the presence of pine martens. However, greys were more unaware of the signs and were therefore more likely to be killed. Dr Emily Reilly, the study's lead author, told The Telegraph: 'Red squirrels would rarely even eat any food if a pine marten had been there in the last eight hours.' 'They slowly became less cautious but you could still see the effect even days after the pine marten visit. 'The grey squirrels do not have this response. This is most likely why their numbers have been decreasing since the pine marten has made a comeback.' A total of 491 squirrel visits were recorded in the study, compared to 226 pine marten sightings detected by the cameras. The data collected in western Ireland will probably apply to Britain, where pine marten numbers are also increasing, Ms Reilly said. The study said: 'Following a pine marten visit to a feeder, red squirrels displayed a typical anti-predator response, exhibiting increased vigilance and decreased feeding.' 'There was no difference in the duration of the red squirrels' visits to a feeder, meaning red squirrels did not display a flight reaction in response to recent pine marten presence.' The study is published in Royal Society Open Science.
BBC News
15-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Drop-in sessions ahead of Exmoor pine marten release
A project aiming to release more pine martens in the South West is holding drop-in sessions for people to find out more about the Wildlife Trust re-introduced the mammals across Dartmoor in 2024 and hopes to do the same on Exmoor later this North, a field officer with the trust, said: "We're providing opportunities for land managers and landowners to come and discuss what it means to live alongside pine martens."Pine martens, which are related to weasels and otters, is a woodland species and are the size of a small domestic cat. Drop-in sessions will be held in Wheddon Cross, Holford and Allerford in North added: "We hope to explain how landowners can aid the recovery of pine martens and how to mitigate any potential conflict as well."We're keen for people to understand what a pine marten is, how to look for one and to know what they're looking for."Fifteen of the mammals were released across Dartmoor - eight females and seven males who were all fitted with radio collars so they can be Two Moors Pine Marten Project is being led by the charity Devon Wildlife Trust, which is working with organisations such as Exmoor National Park Authority and Somerset Wildlife Trust.
