Pine martens return to South West England after 100-year hiatus
A pioneering conservation project has brought pine martens back to South West England, following a 100-year absence.
For the first time in more than a century, 15 pine martens – consisting of 8 females and 7 males – are now roaming around Dartmoor, after being released by an expert team in September.
Conservationists are hailing the project – being led by the Devon Wildlife Trust and in partnership with 7 conservation organisations – as a historic step for restoring the region’s woodlands and wildlife.
Pine martens – which are members of the weasel family – went extinct in the South West of England more than 100 years ago after centuries of loss to their favoured woodland living places, and as a result of hunting and trapping.
The release of the cat-sized, tree-climbing animals is the first stage in the initiative's plans to establish a resident population. If all goes to plan, the second phase will see a similar release of the animals in Exmoor during 2025.
These 15 newly-released pine martens have been fitted with a radio collar to allow their movements to be tracked by vets. But these devices have been designed to drop off the animals in 6-9 months.
Dartmoor’s new pine martens have been sourced from healthy wild populations in Scotland, using the expert assistance of The Vincent Wildlife Trust. Under this meticulously planned operation, the animals were checked over by vets before being transported to their new homes.
They arrived in Dartmouth under the cover of darkness and were placed in specially constructed pens at secluded woodland locations. After three days of acclimatising to their new environment – and being fed and watered by a team of local volunteers – the animals were released into the wild.
The project – which is in collaboration with Dartmoor National Park Authority, Devon Wildlife Trust, Exmoor National Park Authority, Forestry England, National Trust, Somerset Wildlife Trust and Woodland Trust – has been two years in the making and has involved a huge amount of planning and consultation with local communities.
The hope is that the pine martens will disperse to establish their own territories in the wild and gradually grow in population over the coming years.
However, due to their shy and nocturnal nature, it’s unlikely that many humans will encounter the animals now they’ve been released.
Ed Parr Ferris, Conservation Manager at Devon Wildlife Trust, says: “Pine martens are stunning members of the weasel family, about two foot long, weighing just 1.5 kilos, with their creamy-orange bibs contrasting against their smooth chocolate-coloured coat.
"They are amazingly well adapted for life in the woodland night, with strong claws, lithe bodies, fantastic hearing and even reversible rear ankles helping them to run down trees.
"These rare mammals need our help to return to their former homes in the South West, but we also need their help to bring back the natural balance of wildlife to our woodlands.”
You Might Also Like
