Pine martens breed on Exmoor after 150‑year absence

A mother pine marten and four kits have been filmed on Exmoor, marking the first successful breeding of the species there in more than a century. The footage was captured by a volunteer with the Two Moors Pine Marten Project, which re‑released 19 pine martens on the moorland in September of the previous year. Field officer Ali North said the sight of four kits suggests Exmoor provides an ideal habitat, and senior ecologist Ali Hawkins of Exmoor National Park Authority called the development a “hugely encouraging milestone” for nature recovery.

The project, led by Devon Wildlife Trust, also reported breeding on Dartmoor, where pine martens re‑introduced in 2024 have produced a mother and two kits recorded by local residents. Both sites are part of a national strategy to restore pine martens across England and Wales, with volunteers building den boxes and monitoring remote cameras to support the small, vulnerable population.

Conservationists stress that continued public support and reporting of sightings will be vital as the re‑established population remains fragile but shows promising growth.