Pine martens breeding in national park again after going extinct there 100 years ago

• A female pine marten and her four kits have been captured on camera on Exmoor, confirming the successful breeding of the reintroduced species.
• The discovery follows the release of 19 pine martens into secret woodland locations on Exmoor last September.
• The broader rewilding scheme also saw 15 of the elusive mammals introduced to Dartmoor National Park in 2024, with breeding confirmed there in 2025 and again this year.
• The Devon Wildlife Trust said the reintroductions represent the first attempt to re-establish a sustainable breeding population of pine martens to the South West since they were hunted to extinction there more than 100 years ago.
• Wildlife experts highlight the vital role pine martens play in creating thriving woodlands, a habitat they once dominated before their numbers declined.

IN FULL

First pine marten kits spotted in Exmoor following major reintroduction