Pine martens return to the south of England after being on the brink of extinction

Pine martens are making a comeback in the south of England after scientists find evidence they breed in the New Forest.

The cat-sized predator is a relative of ermines and otters and was once widespread in Britain before hunting pushed them to the brink of extinction in the 20th century.

The findings will too benefit red squirrelsbecause the presence of pine martens will help reduce gray squirrel numbers.

Researchers from Forestry England, with funding from Defra, have been placing camera traps in the New Forest for the past two years after reports of the native predator in the area.

Now the team has revealed that they are confident that the population, while small, is reproducing and growing steadily.

As of 2022, over 100 video clips of pine martens have been made, including some where kits play together.

‘Growing population’

Leanne Sargeant, a senior ecologist for Forestry England, told The Telegraph the team doesn’t yet know how big the population is.

“The data we have and the initial data shows that it is a growing population. We are absolutely confident that they will establish and increase in numbers and spread to the appropriate habitat,” she said.

“It is very positive to bring this lost species back to its native habitat, because it is a species that should have been here all along. It is humans that caused the extinction, so we are restoring that state back to its natural state.”