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Pine Martens In Scotland

August 13, 2015 By Greg Murray 41 Comments

Pine Marten Scotland
Pine Marten
Pine Martens In Scotland are a very elusive animal and one of Scotland’s best loved creatures, so what do we know about them?

The Pine Marten are about the size of a domestic cat and belongs to the weasel family, with long bodies and a dark brown fur blending into a cream coloured throat, they have fairly large eyes and protruding round ears.

They are very good climbers with an excellent grip from their strong claws, with a bushed tail ideal for balancing during difficult climbs. They can jump very well from tree to tree with a very acrobatic style almost looking like they are flying. They have excellent grip during icy conditions due to having fine hairs on the soles of their feet, and they have a typical weasel style run as they jump along the ground rather than the usual typical walk like other local mammals.

Pine Martens Habitat

Pine Martens live in woody areas of native Scots pines and other mixed forests, they have also been known to live in Rocky hillside areas. They are very defensive of the areas they live, and leave droppings on rocks and other prominent objects where they can be easily seen by intruders. They can live in self made nests between rocks and even live in Squirrels and birds nests and can be also seen living in the hollows of trees. After breeding they give birth in April and have up to five young.

What do Pine Martens Eat

Pine Martens have excellent eyesight and exceptional hearing with a very good sense of smell that gives them the ability to find prey. They hunt alone and are very independent animals that hunt at night time whilst resting during the daylight hours. They prey on small mammals consisting of Rabbits, Mice, Birds, Voles and also hunt for frogs and insects. They can be seen at times chasing Squirrels and birds throughout the tree tops and also steal young birds from nests, when live prey is scarce they will eat local berries and fruit. Many people can attract Pine Martens to their bird tables by leaving Jam sandwiches for what they have a strong attraction for, in fact they can’t resist them.

Pine Marten

Why Are Pine Martens Rare

The main predator against Pine Martens is in fact Humans but in the wild they are occasionally hunted by the Scottish Wildcat, Golden Eagles and Foxes. The Pine Marten in Scotland was almost extinct in the nineteenth century due to farmers and gamekeepers trapping them because they fed on the lands game birds. They were also captured and killed for their fur to export across to Europe. The destruction of many of Scotland’s forests and natural habitats are another reason why Scotland’s Pine Martens have become rare today, the loss of these forest habitats have had such an impact on not just the Pine Marten but also many of the other animals and plants that once thrived in our great forests.

The Future of the Pine Marten in Scotland

The Pine Martens in Scotland are now on an increase today and are now seen more often in many areas, and in 1988 it was made illegal to kill Pine Martens. Successful re-planting of these many forest and the conservation efforts of land owners and many other groups have also helped increase the amount of Pine Martens in Scotland today and many areas have also had the animal reintroduced with some success.

So it’s looking better for the Pine Marten now and hopefully if you are lucky enough you may see one when on Holiday in Scotland.

Some Nice Pine Marten filming in Scotland

Filed Under: Wildlife Tagged With: pine martens, scotland, scottish wildlife, wildlife in scotland

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. David Brown says

    May 22, 2017 at 2:04 pm

    Saw a Marten mid May on Durris road near Portlethen Aberdeenshire Has anyone else seen them here? I have been a hillwalker for many years but at 57 this is my first spot.

    Reply
    • Derek Beaton says

      June 24, 2022 at 9:01 pm

      I just saw one today (June 2022) in Durris, near the school.

      Reply
  2. janice mason says

    June 6, 2017 at 10:40 am

    pine marten crossed the road in front of my house and came close to my window then passed down the side of the cottage. I am on the outskirts of Falkirk, quite high up ,large gardens ,wooded areas and fields near by.
    size of a small cat . I was quite surprised and I thin it was the same when it saw me at the window
    I did not think they were in this area

    Reply
    • Susan leung says

      September 21, 2018 at 8:45 am

      Just had a pine marten in our large pine tree at back of garden in Bearsden,north of Glasgow,very exciting,the birds were going wild .

      Reply
  3. George Shearer says

    June 22, 2017 at 10:02 pm

    Saw my first ever Pine Marten tonight in Caithness Scotland. It ran out in front of my car but the brakes did their job and he/she made it to the other side safely. A really lovely animal.

    Reply
    • Greg says

      August 31, 2017 at 7:13 pm

      Great creature and well done on stopping in time. Wonderful to see good look on future sightings

      Reply
      • Dawn says

        July 31, 2022 at 9:36 pm

        We have a pine marten come into our garden most evenings eating seed left by the birds, or trying to get into the peanuts. Unfortunately tonight it was dragging one of its back legs ..wish there was something we could do to help it,..hate to think of it in pain or worse die from it’s injury

        Reply
  4. Hazel says

    October 29, 2017 at 8:34 pm

    I saw my first pine Martin on Thursday 26th October 2017 in Caddam wood in Kirriemuir Angus. My two westies ran towards a tree and the pine Martin climbed the tree about 3 yards from me !!! Lovely to see however was not sure what it was until I looked it up

    Reply
    • Ron says

      October 29, 2017 at 8:44 pm

      That’s a close encounter, you’re very lucky 🙂

      Reply
  5. HELEN RICHARDSON says

    December 30, 2017 at 9:38 am

    Saw a pine marten in my garden 29th Dec 2017 at about 11am seems to be there most days

    Reply
  6. John and Judy Campbell says

    March 27, 2018 at 2:32 pm

    We saw our first pine martin today when one visited the garden and feasted in the red squirrel feeder for 15 minutes. That was in Blairmore, Argyll.
    There is a small colony of red squirrels here so we hope that they will coexist amicably with the martin.

    Reply
    • Fynesider says

      October 9, 2018 at 11:12 am

      If you feed them (peanuts) they’ll all co-exist quite happily..

      Reply
  7. Pauline beadie says

    May 22, 2018 at 6:40 pm

    Beautiful wee family nesting in a cottage along the side of loch rannoch. Comes back. Leaves the bird/mouse etc in the guttering then wee baby Martin comes out to feed on it in the guttering .!!!! Absolutely amazing sight and feel very very lucky

    Reply
    • Ron says

      May 22, 2018 at 6:42 pm

      I envy you Pauline!! Well done 🙂

      Reply
  8. Jenni says

    June 17, 2018 at 12:59 am

    I saw a pine Martin tonight crossing the road at Furnace , Argyll.Funnily enough my first pine Martin sighting was in Argyle , knapdale over 20 years ago when I was playing near a burn ..jump down the embankment turned round face to face with a pine Martin . I think we were both wondering who was going to do what …I was worried it would bite me as it was so close and it was probably wondering if I was going to kill it ! Eventually it turned and ran up the banking and away .

    Reply
  9. Gina says

    October 8, 2018 at 6:27 pm

    Pine Marten (black ) in our garden near Alford at 6pm tonight Oct 8th 2018…ran across patio in front of house and climbed fence to reach our neighbours fruit trees … “Supper ” lasted 10 to 15 mins then he returned to our garden running across lawn and onto the decking surrounding our summer house before disappearing into the bushes . Our neighbour has seen him visit these past few weeks . My 1st encounter . Look forward to his\her next visit .

    Reply
  10. Fiona Jamieson says

    December 3, 2018 at 11:31 pm

    Have had a pine marten vist our garden from November for a few years now, we also have a lot of red squirrels, getting a bit worried now as the marten has been at all 3 feeders tonight and even at the bird feeder by the kitchen window

    Reply
  11. donna says

    January 12, 2019 at 6:26 pm

    Can anyone tell me if a Pine Marten is stealing the fat balls we hang in our tree for the birds?They disappear at night ,six at a time out of their holder,no trace of them on the garden in the morning.We live near vast woodland in Ross-shire near the Dornoch Firth.

    Reply
    • Donna says

      February 2, 2019 at 7:05 pm

      Yep it is a Pine Marten,we saw him last night on the garden and are now feeding him nightly.

      Reply
  12. Shona Muir says

    April 14, 2019 at 7:34 pm

    Just had a pine marten at our back door in Blanefield . G63. Had a wee wander and then the dog unfortunately spotted it and it ran away. Never seen one in real life before never mind our back door.

    Reply
    • Ducks says

      April 15, 2019 at 11:12 am

      We had a pine marten visit us for breakfast when we rented a chalet next to Loch Lochy last summer. He climbed on the posts where we’d put a bit of food out for the birds, and then sat on the porch, seemingly peering in through the glass doors. Back again the next day. It was lovely . We’d didn’t expect it.

      Reply
  13. Patsy says

    May 19, 2019 at 5:17 pm

    Just put some peanut butter sandwiches out at a known spot for Pine Martens at Portuairk, Western Isles. Sitting quietly with baited breath!

    Reply
  14. W Hepburn says

    June 11, 2019 at 5:56 pm

    We had one ,think male in our garden about 2 weeks ago and we spotted the female today chasing a rabbit through our garden . We live between Banff and Turriff

    Reply
  15. Suzanne Emptage says

    July 1, 2019 at 5:03 pm

    Saw my first pine marten yesterday, outside my house, halfway between Perth and Crieff, couldn’t believe it, ran about the grass for a few minutes before disappearing.

    Reply
  16. Michael McAuley says

    July 10, 2019 at 10:09 pm

    Can’t believe first time I have ever seen a Pine marten .
    And not just one two off .
    With the wife and son at Cambusdarch campsite
    What a great thing to see and here then talking to each other

    Reply
  17. Diane says

    July 17, 2019 at 6:05 pm

    Saw two pine martins in my garden today – Deskford – very cute

    Reply
  18. Jenpen0 says

    July 18, 2019 at 5:54 pm

    Think I saw, a baby pine marten in Dawsholm Park, Bearsden /Glasgow border on Sunday. Took 2 pictures and have compared to pictures online.. Was a lot of rustling further into bushes, but didn’t investigate as I had my dog with me.

    Reply
  19. MR PAUL CULLEN says

    November 10, 2019 at 2:35 pm

    I saw my 1st and only Pine Marten at the Queen Elizabeth National forest Aberfoyle on the 04/04/19 at 08:40 couldn’t believe it, I got a couple of pic’s but really blurry going up on the 12th of Nov with a better camera so fingers crossed

    Reply
  20. Michelle Kerr says

    December 7, 2019 at 9:49 pm

    Had pine martins in garden in Struy, near Cannich in the Highlands, eating peanuts from a window feeder, left some jam and peanut butter in a small plastic container which it stole!!and metoprolol returned ! Been coming most nights and some mornings to eat managed to video it as it doesn’t appear to see me through the window, just inches away!!!

    Reply
  21. archie mcdougall says

    March 6, 2020 at 11:03 am

    Just had my third and longest siting today 6 March 2020 in Durris Forest . Previous ones outside Drumoak and on the Slug road ……………..so fairly localised area west of Aberdeen ,.

    Reply
  22. jane w says

    June 13, 2020 at 10:12 am

    had amazing time yesterday, we have a big old silage pit very high with roof and sides it is full of split wood and cord wood. A female has bred in the wood piles for many years ,she loves our hens eggs and we have a lot of trees and natural uncultivated ground. I heard a lot of very loud screeching etc so had a look and 2 youngsters had got up on the steel beams of the shed but could not get back down ….mum was grunting and speaking to them to encourage them…there was lots of panicky running about…then mum went up and tried to carry one down……but she could not,. eventually one very carefully started down hanging on with all its strength then eventually the second one plucked up the courage and got down……my husband has just seen 2 playing and chasing on top of all the wood piles…….amazing

    Reply
  23. Donald Hills says

    July 15, 2020 at 9:34 pm

    Saw a pine marten today crossing the road between Kintore and Kemnay in Aberdeenshire it was a fair size o beastie it looked bigger than a domestic cat!!

    Reply
  24. Mrs Arlene J Green says

    September 9, 2020 at 2:03 pm

    We have several sittings of Pine Martens in our garden, we live at Tayvallich, Argyll.

    Reply
  25. Carole says

    October 6, 2020 at 7:44 pm

    Pine Marten now living in our garden in North Glasgow. Large garden surrounded by trees but last week was the first I’d ever seen a Pine Marten.

    Reply
  26. Liz Campbell says

    October 13, 2020 at 8:58 am

    Have just had a pine marten eating peanuts at the bird table outside the kitchen window at 9.30am. Live in Strathlachlan, Argyll.

    Reply
  27. Kim Stanton says

    June 20, 2021 at 6:47 am

    I live in Stronmilchan Dalmally and I have just had a pine marten bound across my rear garden early morning. It was beautiful. Never seen one before!

    Reply
  28. D.Thompson says

    July 30, 2021 at 3:31 pm

    Pine Martin seen crossing road in Assynt 10 mls from Lochinver

    Reply
  29. Shirley Forsyth says

    August 5, 2021 at 3:30 pm

    Seen our first Pine Martin in our garden at Foresterseat in Angus on the 31st July 2021 at 11.00am.

    Reply
  30. Christopher Payne says

    April 18, 2022 at 9:45 pm

    Just had a female Pine Marten eating the fat balls left for the birds at around 8:20pm this evening. Two miles north of Arisaig about 150 metres from the sea at Portnaluchaig. Saw a male (larger and darker) earlier today on the drive to the house

    Reply
  31. Mike Crilly says

    May 23, 2022 at 9:35 pm

    Now seen a brown pine martin pass. by the side of our house near Inchmarlo (Aberdeenshire) on two evenings in May 2022. We have woods to front and back of the house (mainly birch) and several mature Scots pines close to the house. We have been living here for 20 years and never seen one before. Two large areas of commercial pine/spruce forests within a mile of our house have been harvested in the last 2 years.

    Reply
  32. Phyl Robson says

    May 28, 2022 at 8:09 am

    A pine marten visited my bird table at Lochawe , Dalmally on 27 05 22 .The first one I’ve seen in the garden but have seen one at Cruachan Visitor Centre before the Pandemic .

    Reply

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