By Alicia McHugh

What is a pine marten?The pine marten is a small cat like mammal. It is native

to northern Europe, belonging to the mustelid family, which includes the weasel, otter, badger, wolverine and mink. The pine marten is Ireland’s rarest wild animal. It is usually found in the west and south of Ireland. It’s shy and very hard to find. pine martens can live up to 17 years. In parts of Ireland, they are sometimes called a ‘marten cat’. The Irish name for the pine marten is ‘cat crainn’ (tree cat).

What does it look like?As mentioned in the previous, slide, They look very much like a

cat. They can grow to be 21 inches and their bushy tail can be up to 10 inches! They weigh about 1.5kg. Their fur is usually light to dark brown with creamy coloured markings on their neck. Their fur grows longer and smoother in the winter. The males are slightly bigger than the females. Two vertical black lines run above the inner corners of their eyes. In winter, long hairs grow between the toe pads on their feet to keep them warm.

what does it look like…. Inside?

.

Daily Life The pine marten is mainly

nocturnal, hunting through the night and especially at dusk. It usually hunts alone. A very agile predator, it can climb trees easily, grasping the trunk firmly, digging in its claws and bounding upwards with jerky movements. The marten is one of the few predators agile enough to catch a squirrel. If it falls, its supple body twists to land safely on all four feet from as high as 20 metres!

what does it eat?In one night the pine marten can travel

up to 30 km to find food. In winter and spring it eats mostly rats, mice, rabbits, small birds and beetles. It is mainly a meat eater but if its hungry it will eat almost anything. The pine marten has sharp pointed teeth and both jaws are used for stabbing its food. Like cats, their semi-retractable claws also help catch birds and hold onto their prey.

Summarize: what does it eat?

Rats Mice Rabbits Small birds Beetles

Kits Baby pine martens are called

Kits. A litter of about 3 kits are born in late March or April. At birth, the young are blind and are covered in a thin coat of yellowish-white hair which changes to grey and then to brown as they mature. The babies spend at least six weeks in the den before they venture out. The family stays together until they are six months old.

Semi-Retractable clawsRetractable claws are claws

that can be extended when needed and can be withdrawn into the paw, and out of the way, when not needed. ALL felines have retractable claws. Like cats, a pine martens semi-retractable claws help catch and hold onto their prey.

habitatPine martens are very territorial animals especially in areas of their

preferred habitat such as wooded areas or scrub land. Males will generally occupy larger territories than females. Several dens can be located in one territory. Once a pine marten has finished with the den, it will be used by others throughout the year. Pine martens don’t build their own nests but instead use vacated badger setts, tree hollows, old squirrel dreys, scrub-covered fields, attics of buildings or old sheds.

(Scrub land)

More about their habitat The dens are lined with dry

moss or fur for warmth. Pine martens will generally avoid costal areas but inhabit forests of mixed tree types but in the west of Ireland they can be found on open rocky areas, Although their have been many sightings of the animal in slightly more rural areas:

Summarize: habitat wooded areas scrub land Well sheltered fields Forests Open rocky areas

Current Distribution Pine martens have been native

to Ireland since just after the last ice age, they are widespread throughout Europe and Russia. Their population dramatically decreased in the 19th century due to hunting and heavy deforestation. For a time, pine martens were considered pests and their numbers were further reduced by gamekeepers who saw them as a threat to game birds and their eggs. The highest population densities can be found on the west coast from Donegal south to counties Limerick and Kerry. 

(Pine marten trap)

Summarise: current distribution Native since last ice age decrease in population in 19th century Main population in Kerry and Donegal

ThreatsWhen deforestation occurs,

pine martens are forced to move to other areas to find food. This may mean public or farmland areas, This leads to execution by landowners. other threats include illegal poisoning intended to kill foxes and crows, and shooting due to martens attacking hens or being mistaken for mink. Foxes and eagles also kill and eat pine martens.

summarize: Threats• MAINLY HUMANS• deforestation• Hunting• Illegal shooting• Illegal poisoning • Golden eagles • foxes