19 pine martens have been successfully released onto Exmoor in a project led by the Devon Wildlife Trust.
Nine female and 10 male pine martens were sourced from healthy wild populations in North West Scotland, travelling more than 500 miles through the night in a specially adapted, temperature-controlled vehicle.
Upon their arrival, the pine martens were housed separately in release pens, each containing a snug den box with fresh food and water. After 72 hours, the door to each pen was opened and the pine martens were able to explore their surroundings. Each pine marten has been fitted with a radio collar, so project staff are able to follow their journeys in the coming months. They have been designed to drop off the collars after 6-9 months.
They have been released in secret locations around Exmoor in areas owned and cared for by the National Trust and the Forestry Commission. Their release was timed to coincide with the autumn harvest, as pine martens enjoy a varied diet of wild bilberries and fruit – although they also hunt for prey such as voles and mice.
This marks the second of two reintroductions in the Two Moors Pine Marten Project, which last year saw the release of 15 pine martens into the nearby Dartmoor National Park in autumn 2024.
Pine martens became extinct in South West England over a century ago, after centuries of loss and damage to woodlands – and as a result of hunting and trapping.
The Dartmoor introduction has been deemed to be a success, as pine marten kits (young pine martens) were seen on Dartmoor this summer. It is hoped that, in time, these two groups will grow and ultimately merge to become the first stable pine marten population in South West England since the 19th century.
Similar releases of pine martens have taken place in recent years in the Forest of Dean, Wales and Cumbria.
These predominantly nocturnal, woodland-dwelling creatures are roughly the size of cats and are typically solitary.
The project has been 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.
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Top image: Pine marten TM27 leaves the release pen (credit: Two Moors Pine Marten Project)
