Pine marten confirmed living in South Devon

Camera-trap footage captured the animal moving through woodland this year, providing evidence that it has travelled at least 25 miles to establish a new territory.

The sighting comes two years after the first pine martens were reintroduced to Dartmoor as part of the Two Moors Pine Marten Project, led by Devon Wildlife Trust in partnership with six other organisations.

In autumn 2024, 15 pine martens were released at woodland locations on Dartmoor, followed by a further 19 on Exmoor in autumn 2025. The pioneering reintroduction programme is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Daniel Brown, Devon Wildlife Trust Field Officer for Dartmoor, said: “Our continued monitoring, with the use of wildlife cameras, shows that the pine martens have settled well into the southwest landscape. South Devon offers species such as pine martens a fantastic mosaic of scrub, grass and woodland habitats. It’s been fantastic working with National Trust staff in South Devon to support monitoring and habitat creation,”

Once a familiar feature of English woodlands, pine martens have been absent from the region for more than 100 years after hunting and trapping drove the species close to extinction. About the size of a small cat, pine martens belong to the mustelid family, which also includes badgers, otters, stoats, weasels and polecats. They are skilled climbers, well adapted to woodland habitats, and can adjust their diet throughout the year according to what is available.

Their food includes small mammals, such as grey squirrels, as well as invertebrates, birds, plants and fungi. By feeding on a variety of species, pine martens can contribute to the balance of woodland ecosystems.

As part of the work to help the animals establish themselves, the National Trust's South Devon Ranger Team and Devon Wildlife Trust have constructed pine marten den boxes. The animals naturally use cavities in trees for shelter and breeding, but these features can be scarce in modern woodland. The boxes will provide additional opportunities for females to raise their young, shelter from bad weather and protect themselves from predators.

Before release, each pine marten was fitted with a tracking collar to allow its movements and progress to be monitored.

The confirmed South Devon sighting highlights the importance of ongoing habitat restoration and efforts to connect woodland areas. National Trust rangers, conservation partners and private landowners have been working for years to improve habitats and create green corridors through which wildlife can move.

Emma Reece, National Trust Lead Ranger, said: “The Ranger Team have been really excited to partner with Devon Wildlife Trust on this project. We’ve been working hard locally for many years to improve habitats for wildlife, so having a pine marten present in South Devon is a great indication that the sites are rich with wildlife and a health ecosystem is being restored.”

The Two Moors Pine Marten Project is led by Devon Wildlife Trust and involves Dartmoor National Park Authority, Exmoor National Park Authority, Forestry England, the National Trust, Somerset Wildlife Trust and the Woodland Trust.

People interested in learning more about the reintroduction programme can read the full story at Devon Wildlife Trust's Bringing Back Pine Martens.

There are also opportunities for members of the public to help monitor woodland wildlife through the charity's Citizen Science: Woodland Wildlife Survey. Further information is available at Devon Wildlife Trust's website.