Where does the European pine marten live?
The European pine marten lives in most of Europe, Asia Minor, the Caucasus, and parts of Iran, Iraq and Syria. It prefers forested regions, with trees for its arboreal lifestyle. It dens in tree cavities, but also in inhabited buildings, and deposits faeces to mark its home range. In the UK it was for many years common only in north-western Scotland, but its range is now expanding, with reintroduction projects in England.
What does the European pine marten eat?
It eats small mammals, birds, insects, frogs and carrion, but also berries, fruits, bird eggs, nuts and honey. It is mainly active at night and at dusk. It has excellent senses of sight, smell and hearing. Its fur is light to dark brown, with a cream- to yellow-coloured "bib" on its throat.
Is the European pine marten endangered?
No: the IUCN lists it as Least Concern. In the UK it is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981. It is up to 53 cm long, with a bushy tail of about 25 cm, and weighs around 1.5 to 1.7 kg.
