Pine martens vanished from England for a century; locals helped bring them back, now 4 kits spotted

Pine martens are making a remarkable return to south-west England after disappearing from Exmoor for more than a century, with conservationists capturing the first confirmed evidence that the reintroduced animals are breeding in the wild. A remote trail camera recorded a female pine marten with four kits on Exmoor, signalling that an ambitious effort to restore the native predator is beginning to take hold. The breakthrough follows the release of 19 pine martens on Exmoor in September 2025 after years of preparation involving conservation organisations, landowners, volunteers and local communities. Volunteers have supported the project through practical conservation work, including helping with den boxes and monitoring wildlife cameras, while conservationists have tracked the released animals to understand how they are settling into the landscape. The sighting of four kits marks a major step towards establishing a self-sustaining population.Pine martens return to England after a centuryPine martens (Martes martes) were once widespread across Britain, including south-west England, but their numbers fell dramatically because of persecution, trapping, hunting and habitat loss. The spe...