skip to main content

Protected mammals - Pine marten

What are they?

Pine martens are cat sized members of the weasel family with long bodies (65-70 cm) covered with dark brown fur with a large creamy white throat patch.

They generally prefer to live in native woodlands but can also live in conifer plantations and on rocky hillsides.  They make breeding nests among rocks, in hollow trees or in a bird or squirrels' nest.  They have up to five young which are born in April.  Pine martens also have a few temporary resting places (dens) within the area in which they live which they use from time to time.

Find out more about pine martens...

How are they protected?

Pine martens are listed on Schedule 5  PDF document of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended).  Various methods of capturing or killing pine martens are also listed in the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended).

Offences

The following provides a summary of the offences in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) in relation to wild pine martens. 

It is an offence to intentionally or recklessly:

  • kill, injure or take a wild pine marten;
  • damage, destroy or obstruct access to any structure or place which such an animal uses for shelter or protection (a nest or den)*;
  • disturb such an animal when it is occupying a structure or place for that purpose*;
  • possess or control, sell, offer for sale or possess or transport for the purpose of sale any live or dead wild pine marten or any derivative of such an animal.

Knowingly causing or permitting any of the above acts to be carried out is also an offence.

* unless this happens in a dwelling-house. i.e. if a pine marten builds a den in a house (usually a roof-space). 

Licensing and pine martens

Licences are available to allow specified people to carry out actions that could otherwise constitute an offence.  As with any protected species, licences can only be issued for specific purposes that are set out in the legislation.  If you are planning any activities that could affect pine martens, you should make sure that you stay within the law.

Licensing and pine martens

 

 

*Please Note* The summary of legislation and list of offences on this page are not comprehensive, and is intended for use as a guide only.  For a definitive list of offences you should consult the actual legislations, both European and national.  It is also important to note that this is the law in Scotland, elsewhere in the UK the legislation may differ.