Two Moors Pine Marten Project FAQs

Pine martens play an important ecological role in our ecosystem and their reintroduction benefits the restoration of woodlands more broadly. They are a charismatic species and can be a wonderful sight to see in the wild. Returning such species to this area, where this can be done sustainably and with community support, enriches our world.

Pine martens are part of the UK’s rich natural heritage and were once among our most common native carnivores. However, woodland loss and persecution in the 18th and 19th centuries led to dramatic population declines. Today, they are critically endangered in England and Wales and remain one of the rarest mammals in Britain.

In addition to their intrinsic value, pine martens have a significant role to play in recreating natural ecosystems. Along with other similar mid-sized carnivores, pine martens contribute to the natural balance of ecosystems. Pine martens predate invasive species such as grey squirrels, although more research is needed to better understand their potential impact.

Re-establishing pine martens in England also has the potential to benefit the rural economy, as has been the case in Scotland, through the creation of tourism opportunities for people who are keen to see pine martens.

What effect might pine martens have on ground-nesting birds and songbirds?

Pine martens have co-existed and evolved with many bird species across their European range for thousands of years and should continue to do so in England. Pine martens have a very varied diet and predate the most common bird species in woodlands, such as wood pigeon, jay and blackbird. Pine martens are solitary, live at relatively low population densities and have large home ranges, meaning they are unlikely to affect populations of rare or vulnerable species and their impacts on rare birds will be lower than common predators such as foxes or crows. As a woodland species, pine martens rarely use habitats outside of woodland — they especially avoid large areas of open ground without cover — so are unlikely to encounter bird species which live outside of woodlands, such as grouse.

Are pine martens a threat to chickens or game birds?

Pine martens may kill chickens or game birds if they can gain access to poultry and game pens, but predation can be prevented using simple and effective husbandry techniques, similar to those already in place against other predators.

How will pine martens impact on grey and red squirrels?

Research in Scotland and Ireland has shown that where pine martens are present at relatively high population densities, they appear to have a negative impact on grey squirrels and can reduce the numbers of grey squirrels. This in turn seems to allow red squirrels to recover and there is a positive relationship between pine martens and red squirrels in parts of Scotland and Ireland. In a study in Ireland, grey squirrels made up ~15% of the pine marten diet in woodlands where both species occur, whereas red squirrels featured in the pine marten’s diet only occasionally, making up ~2% of the diet.

However, the mechanisms behind this effect are not yet understood, and it’s not known whether pine martens will suppress grey squirrel numbers in England as the marten population increases. The research in Scotland suggests that for pine martens to have an impact on grey squirrels, martens have to have been present for many years and occur at relatively high densities. Therefore, it’s likely it will be several years before any impact on grey squirrels is seen in England, as the population will need time to build up to a higher density.

What effect might pine martens have on bats?

Bats do not play a functional role in pine marten diet and there is very little evidence of frequent bat predation by pine martens. Elsewhere in Europe where pine martens occur, they are not viewed as a serious threat to bat populations, and the behavioural adaptations of bats roosting in buildings means that the potential for predation by martens is very low. However, pine martens will occasionally access buildings and den (rest) in them, therefore, some bat species that roost in buildings may be at risk of disturbance or predation by pine martens. Mitigation methods are available to be deployed to protect roosting bats, if necessary.

What effect might pine martens have on dormice?

Hazel dormice are unlikely to be predated by pine martens in natural nest sites or while active. However, dormice could be vulnerable to marten predation in a nest box, especially on cooler days when they are less active. Nest boxes can be easily modified to prevent pine martens from opening them.

Evidence and research

To learn more about the research behind the Two Moors Pine Marten Project, including the Habitat Regulations Assessment, please visit our Reports and Documents webpage.

The project team undertook two years of extensive evaluation to determine the feasibility and appropriateness of reintroducing pine martens. This included assessments of the ecological impact on other native species, the socio-economic effects on potentially affected businesses such as agriculture and commercial shoots, and consultation with local communities the team also worked to successfully  gain the necessary permissions and licenses from governing authorities to move animals from existing healthy populations in Scotland to best suitable sites in the South west of England.

Evidence and research

To learn more about the research behind the Two Moors Pine Marten Project, including the Habitat Regulations Assessment, please visit our Reports and Documents webpage.

Whilst the pine marten population is recovering well in Scotland and is spreading over the border into parts of northern England, the same natural recovery has not occurred in southern England. Large conurbations and areas of unsuitable habitat in parts of north-west and central England is likely to prevent this population spreading to central and southern England naturally.

Conservation translocations (deliberately moving animals from one place to another) have already been used to restore viable pine marten populations to Mid Wales and Gloucestershire and could be used to restore pine martens to other suitable areas of England.

In line with the long-term strategic recovery plan for pine martens in Britain, the Two Moors Pine Marten Project aims to help speed up the return of the pine marten to the South West, which would otherwise take many decades.

Yes, in autumn 2024 the first pine martens were reintroduced to the South West of England. 15 healthy adult animals (including eight females and seven males) were released into the wild at secret locations on Dartmoor, Devon. The pine martens were sourced from healthy and thriving wild populations in Scotland. The translocations were done by the Two Moors Pine Marten project with the expert help staff from Vincent Wildlife Trust. This was done following International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines on translocations and Defra’s code and guidance for reintroductions and other conservation translocations. The capture and reintroduced pine martens come from Scotland, meant the project also complied with the Scottish Code for Conservation Translocations.

The welfare of the animals was our primary concern throughout the long planning stages of the project and while carrying out the translocations. Over a period of a month in early autumn 2024 the animals were humanely captured in Scotland using the expertise of colleagues at Vincent Wildlife Trust who could draw on their extensive experience gained in similar successful translocations of pine martens to Wales (2015) and the Forest of Dean (2019). The animals were then health checked, sexed and aged by a vet. Only those pine martens which were of a suitable breeding age and who were fit and healthy were selected for the translocation to Devon. The journeys were done by road at night using a specially adapted, climate-controlled vehicle. No more than four animals were moved per trip. The animals were held in their own secure pens, separate from one another so as to reduce disturbance. They were checked, fed and watered every 2-3 hours during the journey. On arrival in Dartmoor each pine marten was placed in a specially constructed pen in woodland locations which were chosen for their seclusion and surrounding suitable habitat. After three days in which they were fed and watered, the pens were opened and the pine martens could take their first steps into the wild of the Devon countryside.

Each translocated pine marten was fitted with its own radio collar. These collars were a condition on the licences granted to us to reintroduce the animals. They are vital in allowing us to track the movements and the welfare of the released pine martens. So as to minimise future disturbance, we don’t plan on making the precise movements of individual animals widely known.

The collars were specially made for the pine martens. Before travelling to Devon each of the pine martens was weighed so that an appropriately sized collar could be fitted to the animal. This collar’s design has been used successfully and without harm to pine martens in past translocation projects. Each collar is made of a soft leather and contains a stud fastening which will mean it drops off the animal six to nine months after fitting. In the meantime, the collars will provide the project with invaluable data with which to closely monitor each animal’s progress.

Yes, the project intends to conduct a further release of pine martens at locations in Exmoor during 2025. This is likely to be of the same scale (15 to 20 animals) as the Dartmoor release in autumn 2024. We’re currently working with local communities and stakeholders on Exmoor to choose the most suitable locations.

The re-introduction is intended to help assist the national recovery of pine marten and would begin to establish a permanent and sustainable population in South West England. After completion of the reintroduction project, ongoing work would take place to monitor the expansion and dispersal of pine martens across the South West. Supplementary animal releases may take place in future years to boost numbers if required.

Pine marten territory or home range sizes vary depending on the quality of habitat and food availability, but are typically in the region of 1km2 to 10km2. Dispersal distances can vary between 0 to 50km, but in other reintroduced populations, some individuals have dispersed over 100km from the release point.

Pine martens live at low densities and an average density is 0.5 pine martens per km2; far lower than most other carnivores of a comparable size. This means that they will never become overly abundant. Pine martens are primarily solitary and avoid each other, except for breeding. This means that if you see two or three pine martens together, it will most likely be a female with young or juvenile siblings that sometimes stay together in their first year.

The Two Moors Pine Marten Project is aware of recent sightings and photos of pine martens in North Devon and Exmoor. We are in contact with landowners to offer expert advice and guidance where required.

The origin of these animal(s) is unknown.

To report sightings of pine martens in the South West of England contact the Two Moors Pine Marten Project via 01392 279244 or email pinemartens@devonwildlifetrust.org

In recent years there have been occasional sightings of dead and live pine martens in the South West of England. Sometimes these have proved to be misidentifications – pine martens and polecats look similar to one another and can easily be mixed up. On rare occasions a positive identification has been confirmed.

We do not know the source of these animals - they are likely to be the result of either an escape from private collections or an unsanctioned release.

The infrequent and dispersed nature of sightings suggests that if there are pine martens living wild in the South West, that they are in very small and isolated populations. This makes the need for a well-resourced and planned reintroduction programme even more vital.

If you think you’ve seen a pine marten (alive or dead) in the South West you can let us know by contacting pinemartens@devonwildlifetrust.org or call Devon Wildlife Trust on 01392 279244. Please try and record film or a photo of the animal(s) and tell us exactly where and when your sighting took place. Thank you.

In May 2024 we announced that the Pine Martens Bounce Back: The Two Moors Pine Marten Project had received a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant of £1.2 million. 

This is a welcome boost to the project. It will ensure that the reintroduction of pine martens to the South West of England can now take place.

Funding made possible by money raised by National Lottery players will also enable the project to launch an ambitious programme of community activities which will engage people in exploring, learning about and caring for the region’s woodlands.

Over three years, thousands of people will support the return of this missing piece of our woodland community and help restore the region’s woodlands. Hundreds of opportunities will be made available to people from across the South West drawn from diverse backgrounds.

The project also has a strong focus on creating pathways for young people to get involved in conservation through volunteering and traineeships.  

Further details of opportunities to get involved with ‘Pine Martens Bounce Back’ will be appear soon!