PINE MARTEN

PINE MARTEN IN SCOTLAND

Britain's rarest carnivore is the Pine Marten. It is the size of a cat. It measured from head to body 18 in (45 cm) and 9 in (23 cm) the tail. Nature equipped it with sharp teeth and claws to be a successful hunter. It has scent gland to mark its territory and leaves droppings on high grounds.

The male pine marten is call dog and the female is called bitch.

For centuries the pine marten has been hunted for its fur. It has a rich brown long fur with a bushy tail. Its ears and throat are creamy-yellow. Its legs and feet are strong to enable it to climb trees. It has the lair and breeding den in hollow trees. Also in rock fissure or old bird's nest.

The name pine marten was given because it was only found in matured coniferous forest such as Caledonia Pine Forest. Today, it adapted itself to live in mixed forests.

The diet of a pine marten is of a great variety such as field voles, small birds, frogs, beetles, and worms. It also eats birds' eggs, berries, nuts and fungi. The pine marten either lives in solidarity or in pairs.

Its mating season is from July to August and the young are not born till next March or April. They have one to three young ones and they are called kits. They are born blind. Only the females rear them. At six months they are fully independent and leave home to find their own territory.

The pine marten was widespread in Britain until 1800. Then their numbers declined and the lowest was by 1900. The reason was loss of habitat and also being hunted for its fur.

A planting of forests are hoped to bring the pine martin back from extinction and it will spread widely again.

Today, you will find pine marten in the north and west of Scotland only but their numbers are increasing again due to new habitats. A Law was also brought in that it is illegal to hunt pine marten.