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Pine marten

Largely confined to the north of the UK, the rare pine marten is mostly nocturnal and very hard to spot. Reintroductions are helping it make a comeback.

Scientific name

Martes martes

When to see

January to December
Report your pine marten sightings in Northern Ireland

Species information

Statistics

Length: 46-54cm
Tail: 18-27cm
Weight: 0.9-2.2kg
Average lifespan: up to 8 years

Conservation status

Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework.

About

An elusive mustelid (the name for a member of the weasel family), the pine marten was once common across the UK. It declined due to persecution and habitat loss. Today it is mostly found in the north of the UK, particularly Scotland and Northern Ireland, though conservation work is helping it make a comeback in other areas.

The pine marten prefers woodland habitats, climbing very well and living in tree holes, old squirrel dreys or even old bird nests. It feeds on small rodents, birds, eggs, insects and fruits. During the summer mating season, they make shrill, cat-like calls. The following spring, the female will have a litter of between one to five kits, which are independent by autumn.

How to identify

Mostly chestnut-brown in colour, the pine marten has a characteristic pale yellow 'bib' on its chin and throat. Each pine marten has a uniquely shaped bib, allowing individuals to be identified by the pattern. The pine marten also has a long, bushy tail.

Distribution

Mainly found in Scotland, particularly in the Highlands, and Ireland. The population in Northern Ireland has shown a recovery in recent decades, with pine martens now found throughout all six counties. Populations in northern England and Wales are fragmented and small but are being bolstered by conservation work, including a reintroduction in Cumbria. They have also been successfully reintroduced to the Forest of Dean and more recently in Dartmoor and Exmoor.

In our area

The pine marten is making a phenomenal resurgence across Northern Ireland and can now be found in all six counties. 

They are also known to den underground in deforested areas in Northern Ireland. 

Did you know?

Bilberries, rowan berries and blackberries make up much of a pine marten's summer diet, often resulting in its 'scats' (droppings) turning blue or red in colour. Pine martens regularly leave their scats on forest trails or in prominent places like boulders to mark their territories. When they are fresh, scats may have a slimy appearance due to mucous binding them together. They may contain fur, feathers, bones or seeds. Scats have sometimes been described as smelling like parma violets!