Exclusive footage shows first pine marten kits born to animals reintroduced in Devon by pioneering project
Conservationists are celebrating the first births of pine martens to a pioneering reintroduction project which has returned the species to the South West of England after a 100-year absence.
15 pine martens, including 8 females and 7 males, were released at undisclosed Dartmoor locations in autumn 2024. Now camera trap footage has revealed the first glimpses of kits, recorded at a secret site in June this year.
Two films show the youngsters as they explore their new home. In one clip we see three kits in a Dartmoor woodland chasing each other through foliage and up a bank before disappearing from sight. A second film shows the same mother with two kits as they scamper along a fallen tree close to a fast-running Dartmoor stream.
The kits are among the first to be born wild in Devon for more than a century. The small cat-sized animals were once common in the South West but fell victim to the loss of their favoured woodland habitat and to human persecution.
The animals have been brought back to the region thanks to the work of the Two Moors Pine Marten Project which is a partnership of seven organisations including Dartmoor National Park Authority, Devon Wildlife Trust, Exmoor National Park Authority, Forestry England, National Trust, Somerset Wildlife Trust and Woodland Trust. The project has been made possible with the support of The National Lottery Heritage Fund thanks to National Lottery players, and with the expert help of the Vincent Wildlife Trust.
Devon Wildlife Trust's Tracey Hamston leads the Two Moors Pine Marten Project. She said:
"When our volunteers discovered the footage of pine marten kits on one of our trail cameras we were ecstatic. This is a historic moment for the return of a native animal and for the future of the South West's woodlands. To have breeding pine martens back after a century's absence signals a positive step in nature's recovery. It's also testament to the many hours work undertaken by the project partnership and dozens of local volunteers."
Kerry White, Dartmoor National Park Authority Ecologist, said:
"Dartmoor National Park Authority is thrilled to have been involved in such a pioneering project, which has brought together multiple organisations to help return pine martens to the South West. We're delighted to see footage of the kits exploring their new environment and look forward to the positive impact their presence will have on helping to re-address ecological balance in our woodlands."
Stuart McLeod, Director – London & South, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:
"The birth of the first pine marten kits in Devon in over a century marks a truly historic moment for wildlife recovery. Thanks to National Lottery players, we've been proud to support this pioneering project to bring this elusive and charismatic species back to our woodlands. It has brought together many organisations with one goal in mind, to help nature's recovery. This milestone is a testament to the power of long-term conservation, and the resilience of nature when given the chance to thrive."
Jack Hunt, Woodland Trust Assistant Site Manager – Devon, said:
"Staff and volunteers have been checking camera traps for several months and over the past few weeks have been eagerly anticipating seeing kits. This sighting is wonderful news. The work over many years to restore and improve the condition of our woodlands, to support other landowners to do the same and work in partnership on this project has culminated in the return of the pine marten born in its natural environment in Dartmoor, the first of many and the beginning of the return of this missing species."
Loubna Tacey, National Trust, spokesperson, said:
"The news of the birth of the first Devon wild pine marten kits marks a significant milestone in the return of a long-lost native species and signals a step forward in restoring the South West's special woodlands. It shows that these elusive animals are settling in, thriving, and beginning to weave themselves into the fabric of our native woodlands. This is a hopeful sign for the long-term resilience of our natural landscapes. As a partner to this exciting project, we are delighted to welcome pine martens back and hopefully, we will see kits emerging in the woodlands next spring here on Exmoor."
Forest Planner at Forestry England, Abigail Parravani, said:
"Forestry England has previously collaborated on successful pine marten releases, so we know that the birth of the first kits following reintroduction is always an exciting milestone for species recovery. I'm looking forward to watching the Two Moors Pine Marten Project go from strength to strength with the next planned releases on Exmoor this year."
Lucie Bennett, Somerset Wildlife Trust's Pine Martens Engagement Officer (Exmoor), said:
"After the years of research, planning and hard work from the project team to deliver a successful translocation, to now see the next generation of pine martens in the South West is simply fantastic. What a beautiful sight to see healthy kits moving through the woodlands of Dartmoor that they once again call home. These kits will grow up to do wonderful things as a part of our woodland ecosystem and mark a special moment in history for nature recovery."
Evidence that the Dartmoor released pine martens are now breeding follows months of work by the Two Moors Pine Marten Project partnership and its dedicated local volunteers. Since their release in September 2024 the team has spent hundreds of hours tracking the movements of the 15 pine martens, installing den boxes for them, and checking camera traps to learn more about their whereabouts and behaviour.
Female pine martens usually give birth to 2 or 3 kits in spring. Youngsters spend their first 7-8 weeks hidden in their dens before emerging in early summer. They then stay with their mothers through autumn and into winter, before becoming fully independent the following spring.
The project's experts anticipate that the South West's population should now grow gradually over coming years. Pine martens live at low density and avoid human contact. Their nocturnal habits and elusive nature mean sightings are likely to be rare.
However, the Two Moors Pine Marten Project is keen to hear from anyone who does come across one of the beautiful animals in Devon. People can get in touch with their sightings via its website www.twomoorspinemartens.org
The project is now preparing for a further release of animals in autumn 2025. The pine martens are to be sourced under licence from NatureScot from healthy wild populations in Scotland. After rigorous health checks by vets, the animals (likely to number around 20 in total) will be released with landowner permissions at secret locations on Exmoor.
In recent months the project team has been holding a series of face-to-face and public meetings with dozens of local stakeholders, explaining about the releases and the part the native species will play in healthy woodlands.
Two Moors Pine Marten Project Lead, Tracey Hamston said:
"We're looking to build on the success of last year's releases of pine martens on Dartmoor. Exmoor's woodlands are well-suited to the animals. Their arrival in early autumn will coincide with the local natural harvest of wild berries – food which pine martens love. In a year's time we would hope to see the first kits appearing on Exmoor."
Anyone interested in finding out more about pine martens and the Two Moors Pine Marten Project should go to: www.twomoorspinemartens.org
About the National Lottery Heritage Fund
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About Pine Martens Bounce Back: The Two Moors Pine Marten Project
Pine Martens Bounce Back: The Two Moors Pine Marten Project is reintroducing critically endangered pine martens to the South West of England, helping to restore natural balance to our much-loved woodlands and bringing back these fascinating wild creatures to the landscapes where they once thrived. The project also aims to help thousands of people to participate in activities which bring not only help to bring pine martens back, but which restore woodlands, and which grow conservation skills and confidence.
The project is led by Devon Wildlife Trust and is a partnership between seven conservation organisations: Dartmoor National Park Authority, Devon Wildlife Trust, Exmoor National Park Authority, Forestry England, National Trust, Somerset Wildlife Trust and Woodland Trust. Young Devon and Space, Devon based youth charities, are supporting the project to involve young people from a range of backgrounds in project objectives. The project is made possible with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and with thanks to the National Lottery players. We are also grateful for the support of a number of generous donors and for the expert advice and guidance of Vincent Wildlife Trust.
For more information about the project and its partners go to www.twomoorspinemartens.org
Wild once more: pine martens return to the South West of England after 100-year absence > CLICK HERE
DEVON WILDLIFE TRUST MEDIA RELEASE
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