Marten Myths

By Chryssa Brown

Species Recovery Officer

We are celebrating National Pine Marten Day with three myth-busting facts about Pine Marten.

Myth 1: Pine Marten have a poisonous tail barb

Pine Martens do not possess poisonous barbs on their tails. Instead, they have a long, fluffy brown tail which helps them navigate the woodland habitats that they call home

Myth 2: Pine Marten are not native

Pine Martens are native and have been present in the UK and Ireland for at least 6,000 years – it is believed that they were a source of fur for humans during the Neolithic period

Myth 3: Pine Marten hibernate in winter

They don’t hibernate but they have a seasonal diet that is dependent on foods that are most abundant. However, research suggests that they become less active in winter and they can enjoy sleeping up to 11 hours in their holt. Doesn’t that sound nice!

Kent Wildlife Trust, Wildwood Trust, Forestry England, Ashdown Forest, in collaboration with Sussex Wildlife Trust, are assessing the possibility of restoring Pine Martens to the South East of England.

This project is in its early stages. We are currently determining whether the habitat in the South East is suitable for Pine Martens and talking to a range of local people and stakeholders about how they feel about Pine Martens and their potential reintroduction (these are called ecological and social feasibility studies). We have formed a stakeholder working group to enable discussions between a range of key organisations landowners and community groups.

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