Rare Pine Marten kit caught on camera at Longleat

An exceptionally rare Pine Marten kit has been caught on camera at the Longleat estate in Wiltshire, marking a momentous discovery as it is one of the first to be spotted in the West of England.

Longleat had previously announced in February that two Pine Martens were seen together, igniting hopes of the presence of kits.

Now a camera trap has captured the small kit making its way down a tree, described as “slightly ungainly,” by Dr Tom Lewis, Head of Conservation and Research at Longleat.

Dr Lewis said, “The first Pine Marten appeared on the estate in 2024; we’re not sure where it came from, as there isn’t a formal reintroduction programme in this area.”

Despite the mystery surrounding its origins, Pine Martens have established wild populations in the nearby New Forest and the Forest of Dean, which are within dispersal distance.

Earlier sightings of two Pine Martens suggested potential family formation, now confirmed as successful breeding with the review of camera traps from the summer.

“It is extremely rare for footage like this to be available, as they are seen so infrequently due to their primarily nocturnal habits,” Dr Lewis explained.

While Pine Martens typically have two to three kits, they can have up to five in favourable habitats. The presence of one might indicate more in the vicinity.

The kit was identified by its small size and unsteady movement down the tree in the video.

Though reintroductions have been successful on Exmoor, western Somerset, no other breeding Pine Martens have been recorded within Somerset or Wiltshire.

Since the first detection of Pine Martens on the estate in 2024, Longleat has implemented den boxes, altered woodland management, and closely monitored their establishment.

Dr Lewis shared, “It’s extremely exciting that all that work has resulted in kits. We now know that they are here to stay and we look forward to seeing our population expand further in the future.”

Historically, Pine Martens were widespread across the UK but suffered population declines due to habitat loss and human interference.

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.