FAQs

Pine martens are now found in each of the three nations of Britain. Check out the Marten Map to see if they have been recorded near you.

Pine martens are related to badgers, otters and polecats, all of which are members of the weasel family or Family Mustelidae. 

Mustelids are small to medium-sized carnivores, and most have long slender bodies, short limbs and long tails. The pine marten is a tree-dwelling mustelid, similar in size to a domestic cat, and has sharp, well-developed claws for climbing trees and a long tail to help it balance as it travels along branches. 

Yes, because they have been present on the island of Britain for at least 6,000 years. They are believed to have been used as a source of fur by humans during the Neolithic period.

Pine martens are woodland specialists and have excellent climbing skills that allow them to live in forested habitats. To avoid predators, they prefer to use sites above ground, such as tree cavities, in which to rest and rear their kits (young pine martens) but, where these are unavailable, they will use rock crevices, burrows, buildings, nests, dreys and log piles. 

In Britain, the main and largest habitat available to the pine marten is commercially managed conifer plantations followed by small areas of native woodlands.  

Although pine martens are carnivores, they have a varied diet and will eat what is plentiful locally and easily accessible. This may include small mammals, fruit and berries, birds, eggs, insects and dead animals (carrion).  

Pine martens and red squirrels have evolved together throughout their Eurasian range in a natural predator/prey relationship, though studies in Britain and Ireland show a low occurrence of red squirrel in the diet of pine martens. 

Research in Ireland and Scotland has shown that where pine martens are naturally recovering their former range and have established good breeding populations, grey squirrel numbers are decreasing, allowing recolonisation of woodlands by red squirrels (see paper here and here). Scientists are not sure why or how this happens and further research is needed to fully understand the dynamics between the three species. 

Although pine martens mainly predate on small mammals such as voles, birds form a part of their varied diet, and so wild birds and game birds (reared for shooting) may also be predated. 

Before being hunted and trapped to near extinction, pine martens evolved and co-existed with all our native birds in the wild for thousands of years, and they play an important role in the food chain. Pine martens naturally occur in relatively low densities in the landscape and will take advantage of food sources that are locally abundant; they are therefore most likely to predate on bird species that are common and less likely to have an impact on rare birds. They are opportunistic and will predate on birds’ eggs if they come across a nest, something that many other native carnivores and bird species also do.

As pine martens eat what is most commonly and abundantly available, they are unlikely to significantly impact bats or hazel dormice. There is little evidence that pine martens regularly predate on bats, although there is a possibility that pine martens may use the same buildings to den in that bats also roost in. 

As with pine martens, hazel dormice typically exist in low population densities in woodland. Hazel dormouse nest boxes have small entrance holes facing towards the tree trunk and lids are typically secured in place, to protect them from predators.

Yes — as a result of the scarcity of natural den sites, pine martens may use both inhabited and uninhabited buildings as den sites. Information on how to prevent pine martens taking up residence in your home is available at Living with Pine Martens 

Yes they will if they can get in to where the birds are housed. Hen houses are generally marten-proof when made, but tend to deteriorate over time, particularly around the base, and so it is vital that hen houses are regularly checked and maintained to prevent predators getting in through holes.

Martens usually gain access to game fowl pens in three ways: by climbing up fencing into a release pen; by squeezing through holes in fencing; or by jumping into a pen from overhanging tree branches. 

Information on excluding pine martens from domestic poultry houses and small game fowl pens is available Pine-Marten-Leaflet.pdf (vwt.org.uk)

Pine martens are naturally curious animals and do visit gardens in search of an easy meal, such as food left out for family pets and wildlife, food stored in sheds or discarded in rubbish bins. They will, however, move away if no food is readily available. 

To help make sure that any small pets (such as rabbits and guinea pigs) and hens are safe from pine martens, make sure that their housing is secure with no holes greater than 45mm that a marten may fit through. Pine-Marten-Leaflet.pdf (vwt.org.uk).  If you have a pine marten visiting your garden, please let us know here.

No — pine martens are no bigger than a domestic cat and there have not been any recorded incidents of pine martens attacking children. The usual precautions that parents take to protect small children when playing outside are perfectly adequate in relation to any possible encounter with a pine marten.  

If you see a pine marten in England, Wales or Scotland, please report your sighting here

Yes — pine martens are listed under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981), which means that it is illegal to intentionally trap, kill or injure pine martens, or disturb their dens. 

Any activity that could disturb pine martens, such as trapping animals or inspecting den boxes, must be done under a licence from the relevant statutory body.

No — pine martens are usually solitary and territorial, marking their territories with fragrantly scented scats (faeces). Adults only come together for a short period in summer to mate.

 If more than one pine marten are seen together, this is most likely to be a female and her kits, or young siblings that often stay together during their first year. 

Females can have between one and five kits, however two to three is most common and many will not make it through their first year. Pine martens usually don’t start reproducing until their third year.  

Reintroduction is the return of a species from an existing healthy population into an area where it used to live but now no longer does. It is essential that the release areas have enough suitable habitats for food and shelter for the species to survive and thrive. 

Reinforcement is used when animals are released into areas where there is a (usually small) existing population of the same species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) provides Guidelines for Reintroductions and Other Conservation Translocations and the Statutory Nature Conservation Organisations (SNCOs) oversee reintroductions and reinforcements in the UK.

Translocation is the movement and release of a species into new areas to ensure the survival of that species. 

Although the pine marten population in Scotland was spreading southwards, it was unlikely that it would spread to re-colonise Wales and central and southern England due to the large urban areas in northwest and central England, and a lack of appropriate habitat.

Therefore, after years of extensive habitat suitability modelling, surveys, disease risk analysis and community engagement work, and adhering to the relevant guidance and requirements from the IUCN and SNCOs, between 2015 and 2024 VWT translocated pine martens from healthy Scottish populations to suitable habitats in Wales, into the Forest of Dean (England) in partnership with Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and into Devon, England, working with the Two Moors Partnership. These are all areas where pine martens had long been absent, or where populations had become so small and isolated that they were very unlikely to recover naturally without help.