Pine martens could return to the wild this year after trappers nearly drove them to extinction when they were foraging for fur.
- Pine martens were once common in Britain, but trapping them made them endangered.
- They could be reintroduced to south west England after 140 years by 2024
- The National Trust wants to free the otters’ relatives on Exmoor and Dartmoor
- Native red squirrels may be saved as Pine Martens hunts down invasive gray squirrels
They were once one of the most common mammals in Britain.
But pine martens became critically endangered after being caught for their fur and shot for sport.
They could now be reintroduced to south-west England after a 140-year absence.
Conservation groups, including the National Trust, hope the nocturnal animals can be released from the fall of 2024.
Pine martens were made critically endangered after being trapped for their fur and shot for sport, but may now be reintroduced to south-west England after a 140-year absence.
Conservation groups, including the National Trust, hope the nocturnal animals can be released from the fall of 2024.
They are working with Exmoor and Dartmoor park authorities to identify two sites. Pine martens, which are related to otters and ferrets, were confined to the Scottish Highlands and small points in the north and Wales in the early 20th century.
But a study last year found that the Southwest was ripe for a reintroduction program.
Sarah Bryan of the Exmoor National Park Authority welcomed the prospect of the ‘charismatic creatures’ returning.
“We are pleased to consider making these charismatic creatures part of Exmoor’s rich natural heritage once again,” said the chief executive.
“The next step will be to talk to local people and those with direct experience with pine martens to determine if reintroduction is right for Exmoor and, if so, how we can work together to design a successful reintroduction programme.”
The Two Moors Pine Marten Project is now in discussions with residents, farmers, landowners and other land users to assess the impact of the plans on the surrounding environment and businesses.
The study published last year found that the south-west of England was ripe for a reintroduction programme, despite not having the same large blocks of forest as Scotland and Wales.
He found that the region’s low density of major roads, coupled with a network of forests and wooded valleys, often connected by river catchments, would provide enough habitat for the martens to thrive.
Pine martens are omnivores, feeding on whatever is available at the time of year, including voles, rabbits, mushrooms, berries, and small birds, helping to maintain the balance of the forest ecosystem.
Recent research has also found that they can boost efforts to save the native red squirrel by hunting their more abundant gray rivals.
“We are pleased to consider making these charismatic creatures part of Exmoor’s rich natural heritage once again,” said Sarah Bryan of the Exmoor National Park Authority. Pictured: An Exmoor Pony at Wimbleball Lake in Exmoor National Park
Pine martens are omnivores, feeding on whatever is available at the time of year, including voles, rabbits, mushrooms, berries, and small birds, helping to keep the forest ecosystem in balance.
Ed Parr Ferris, conservation manager at the Devon Wildlife Trust, said: “As communities rightly seek to plant more forests to address carbon and climate, it is vital that we also bring back wildlife and the wild processes that make those forests live and function properly.
“This can bring challenges and sometimes requires changes to the way we co-exist with nature, so we want to work with everyone affected over the next 18 months to understand how to do this sustainably, for martens, other animals. savages and people”.
Last week, a report from the Environment Agency exposed the near-catastrophic pressures facing UK wildlife in the face of habitat loss and global warming.
Britain is one of the most depleted nature countries in the world, with 41 per cent of native fauna and flora species declining in abundance since 1970, with 15 per cent threatened with extinction.
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