Could there be pine martens in the South Hams after 150 years?

Pine Martens have been spotted in South Devon after 150 years, after being released on Dartmoor. 

The National Trust and Devon Wildlife Trust are celebrating another success for the Two Moors Pine Marten Project, which saw 15 pine martens released in woodland locations on Dartmoor in autumn 2024, while in autumn 2025 a further 19 animals were released on Exmoor. 

The female pine marten caught on camera by the Two Moors Pine Marten Project - credit Two Moors Pine Marten Project 

While the specific locations of the pine martens is kept under wrapped, an individual has been spotted on wildlife cameras in "woodlands in South Devon", confirming that "this individual has travelled at least 25 miles to secure their new territory". 

A spokesperson for Devon Wildlife Trust said: "Once a familiar feature of English woodlands, pine martens have been missing from the region for over 100 years, having been hunted and trapped to almost extinction. The size of a small cat, they belong to the mustelid family and are one of six native mustelid species in Britain: badger; otter; stoat; weasel; polecat; pine marten.

"Pine martens have excellent climbing skills that allow them to live in forested habitats and adapt their diet throughout the year to take advantage of what is most locally abundant. This can include small mammals, such as grey squirrels, as well as invertebrates, birds, plants and fungi, helping to keep the forest ecosystem in balance.

"The South Devon Ranger Team, along with Devon Wildlife Trust, have constructed pine marten den boxes. Pine martens’ make their dens in tree cavities, a rare occurrence now in natural woodlands, and so these den boxes will provide more opportunities for females to raise their young, avoid predators and to shelter from bad weather.

"Each pine marten had been given a tracking collar before release, allowing the project to monitor each individual’s progress. This official sighting of a pine marten residing in South Devon signals a huge step in nature recovery across South Devon.

"National Trust Rangers along with partners and private landowners have been working for years to connect green corridors and restore native woodlands, allowing a once extinct species to thrive."

Daniel Brown, Devon Wildlife Trust Field Officer for Dartmoor said: “Our continued monitoring, with the use of wildlife cameras, shows that the pine martens have settled well into the southwest landscape. South Devon offers species such as pine martens a fantastic mosaic of scrub, grass and woodland habitats."

Emma Reece, National Trust Lead Ranger added: “The Ranger Team have been really excited to partner with Devon Wildlife Trust on this project. We’ve been working hard locally for many years to improve habitats for wildlife, so having a pine marten present in South Devon is a great indication that the sites are rich with wildlife and a health ecosystem is being restored."