# Pine Marten (*Martes martes*)

> The pine marten (Martes martes) is an agile, cat-sized member of the weasel family found in the conifer and mixed forests of Europe and western Asia. About 55 cm long with rich brown fur and a cream-coloured throat patch, it is an expert climber that hunts small mammals, birds, and eggs, and also eats fruit. Largely nocturnal and solitary, it can live up to ten years in the wild.

- **Category:** Mammal
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Conifer and mixed forests from Ireland and Britain through Scandinavia, Russia, and western China.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/pine-marten/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Carnivora
- **Family:** Mustelidae
- **Genus:** Martes

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Martes martes |
| Diet | Carnivore — small mammals, birds, eggs, and fruit |
| Habitat | Conifer and mixed forests of Europe and western Asia |
| Lifespan | 8–10 years in the wild |
| Weight | 0.9–1.7 kg (2–3.7 lb); males larger |
| Top speed | Up to 25 km/h (16 mph); agile in trees |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |

## Life in the trees

The pine marten is superbly adapted to an arboreal life, with a long body, sharp semi-retractable claws, and a bushy tail that helps it balance as it bounds through the canopy. It can leap between branches and descend tree trunks head-first, hunting squirrels and birds far above the ground. Much of its life is spent in dense woodland, where it dens in tree hollows, old nests, and rocky crevices. This agility sets it apart from most other members of the weasel family.

## Varied diet

Although a member of the carnivore family, the pine marten is an opportunistic omnivore. It hunts small mammals such as voles, mice, and squirrels, along with birds and their eggs, but also eats large quantities of berries and fruit, especially in late summer and autumn. This flexible diet helps it survive lean periods when prey is scarce. In parts of its range, its fondness for grey squirrels may even help native red squirrels recover.

## Territory and behaviour

Pine martens are solitary and strongly territorial, marking their range with droppings, known as scats, left in prominent places. Each animal patrols a large home range that it defends against others of the same sex. Mostly active at night and around dawn and dusk, martens move quickly and quietly through the forest at up to 25 km/h (16 mph). They rely on scent and keen senses to navigate and communicate across their wooded territory.

## Breeding and delayed implantation

Pine martens mate in summer, but the female's body delays the development of the embryos until the following spring, a strategy known as delayed implantation. This ensures the young, usually two or three kits, are born in spring when conditions are best. The kits are raised in a secure den, often a tree hollow, and are cared for by the mother alone. They become independent by autumn and reach breeding age in their second or third year.

## Decline and recovery in Britain

Pine martens were once widespread across Britain but were driven to near extinction by habitat loss and persecution, surviving mainly in the Scottish Highlands. Legal protection and, more recently, reintroduction projects in Wales and England have begun to reverse this decline. The species is slowly reclaiming former woodlands where it had long been absent. Its return is also of interest to conservationists because of its potential to suppress invasive grey squirrels.

## Range and status

Across Europe and western Asia as a whole, the pine marten remains widespread in suitable forest, and the IUCN lists it as Least Concern. It favours conifer and mixed woodland but can also use scrub and rocky ground where cover is good. Wild pine martens typically live eight to ten years. Continued forest cover and the easing of past persecution are key to its ongoing recovery in areas where it had declined.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does a pine marten look like?

A pine marten is about the size of a cat, roughly 55 cm long, with rich chestnut-brown fur, large rounded ears, and a bushy tail. Its most distinctive feature is a creamy-yellow patch on the throat and chest.

### What do pine martens eat?

Pine martens are omnivores that hunt voles, mice, squirrels, and birds and raid nests for eggs. They also eat a lot of berries and fruit, particularly in late summer and autumn.

### Are pine martens good for red squirrels?

Evidence suggests they can be. Pine martens catch grey squirrels more easily than the lighter, more agile native red squirrels, so their return may help suppress invasive greys and give reds a chance to recover.

### Where do pine martens live?

Pine martens live in conifer and mixed forests across Europe and western Asia. In Britain their stronghold has long been the Scottish Highlands, though reintroductions are helping them return to Wales and England.

### How long do pine martens live?

In the wild, pine martens usually live eight to ten years. They are listed as Least Concern across their wider European and Asian range, even though they became rare in parts of Britain.

### Are pine martens rare in the UK?

They became very rare in Britain after centuries of habitat loss and persecution, surviving mainly in Scotland. Thanks to legal protection and reintroduction projects, they are now slowly recovering in Wales and parts of England.

## Sources

- [IUCN Red List — Martes martes.](https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Martes%20martes&searchType=species)
- [Animal Diversity Web — Martes martes. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Martes_martes/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/pine-marten/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.