Pine martens captured on hidden camera shows species is making a comeback

Pine martens, a species previously only thought to have survived largely in the North, have established a population in the New Forest in Hampshire.

The animals, which are a cat sized member of the weasel family, have been captured on hidden cameras set up to monitor other species.

Habitat loss and human activity drastically reduced their numbers, with only a small and fragmented population remaining, mostly in Northern England, Scotland and parts of Wales.

They prefer well-wooded areas with plenty of cover and largely feed on small rodents, birds, insects and fruit.

Watch: Pine martens captured on hidden camera in the New Forest

Leanne Sargeant, Senior Ecologist at Forestry England, said "It is not often that we are able to talk about wildlife returning to landscapes and re-establishing their populations, so this is a really fascinating development to study.

"The New Forest is a unique landscape and a haven for wildlife, and through this work we hope to learn just what makes it such a good habitat for returning pine martens." 

A team from Forestry England, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, and Wild New Forest will be studying them over the next year to find out more about how these rare creatures are living in the Forest.

Marcus Ward from the specialist conservation consultancy, Wild New Forest, said "Since we recorded the first video evidence of Pine Martens in the New Forest in 2016, we have been following their progress with great interest.

"This new project is a wonderful opportunity to assess the current status of the New Forest population and will help inform their future conservation."

The team will be assessing the size of the population and their breeding success. Every pine marten is chestnut brown in colour but each has a uniquely shaped bib - a pale yellow section of fur on its chin and throat.

This will make it possible to identify and record every individual, and observing their interactions means the team will also be able to spot family groups.