Pine martens in the South West of England have begun to produce young and are 'doing well' since their recent reintroduction, say experts.
In autumn 2024, 15 pine martens were released at secret woodland locations on Dartmoor; while in autumn 2025 a further 19 animals were released at undisclosed spots on Exmoor. The reintroductions were the work of the Two Moors Pine Marten Project which is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The project is led by the charity Devon Wildlife Trust and is a partnership between seven organisations: Dartmoor National Park Authority, Devon Wildlife Trust, Exmoor National Park Authority, Forestry England, National Trust, Somerset Wildlife Trust and Woodland Trust.
Pine martens had been missing from the region for more than 100 years after having been hunted and trapped to extinction. The animals are the size of a small cat and like to climb trees in search of food which includes wild fruits, mice, grey squirrels, and other small prey.
Tracking collars given to each animal before release have allowed the project to monitor their progress. Tracey Hamston is the Two Moors Pine Marten Project Lead. Tracey said:
"The collars have meant we can track the animals' movements. The results show that some pine martens stayed close to where they were released, but others travelled some distance, in a few cases more than 20 miles.
The Dartmoor pine martens seem now to have settled forming their own individual territories. Some of the Exmoor animals still seem to be mobile but we'd expect most to settle and establish a territory soon.
It's been amazing to see where the pine martens have travelled since their release. We can see that they've been thoroughly exploring the landscape before settling into their new woodland homes."
The pine martens' collars are designed to cease to function and drop off after six months. In their place the project is now seeking to track the animals' progress using remote cameras positioned in local woodlands.
Last July, one of these cameras recorded images of a female pine marten and her three kits (youngsters) as they moved through a Dartmoor woodland. This was the first proof that the animals had bred successfully.
Tracey Hamston said:
"This was the news we were waiting for – proof that the pine martens have established themselves and are doing well.
This year's kits should be being born on both Dartmoor and Exmoor around now. We hope to see evidence of this on our cameras when the kits become more active in May and June."
Abby Parravani is Forest Planner at Forestry England. Abby said:
"Forestry England is proud to be a partner in the Two Moors Pine Marten project. The encouraging results from collar tracking and camera trap monitoring are hugely rewarding for all involved in the project. As omnivores and predators, pine martens fulfil an important role in woodland ecosystems, helping to increase the resilience of forests, so we are thrilled that this native species is once again establishing in woodlands in the South West."
The Two Moors Pine Marten Project is now appealing to the public to help it keep tabs on the pine martens' whereabouts. It is asking anyone who sees a pine marten in the region to let them know where and when they spot them. The project would especially welcome photos or video of sightings. All records of pine marten encounters can be sent to a dedicated email address: pinemartens@devonwildlifetrust.org
The precise locations of the animals are being kept secret by the project to minimise disturbance.
The project is also keen to hear from woodland owners with wildlife cameras, especially those on or close to Dartmoor and Exmoor, who would be happy to take part in its Woodland Survey.
Ali North is the project's Exmoor Field Officer. Ali said:
"Pine martens are a highly mobile species and so they have kept us very busy trying to keep track of them.
We're excited to moving into the next phase of our monitoring using camera traps to catch a glimpse into their elusive woodland antics. We hope many landowners will want to get involved in our newly launched woodland citizen science survey to help us track their distribution over time."
Two Moors Pine Marten Project. Photo ©Mark Hamblin 2020Vision (All Rights Reserved)
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.png "Two Moors Pine Marten Project. Photo copyright Mark Hamblin 2020Vision (All Rights Reserved)")