A to Z of Pests

Pine Marten

Martes martes

Appearance

• Adults: head and body 450 – 580mm; tails 160 – 280mm.
• Weight can range from 500 to 1800g; with an average of 1100g.
• Their fur is a rich brown coat, which is thick and silky in the winter but short and coarse in the summer.

Lifecycle

• The normal lifespan is three to four years, but they may live to 11 years, in the wild. In captivity, they may live up to 15 years.
• Mating begins midsummer although implantation of the fetrtilised eggs in the womb may not occur until early the following spring. Gestation takes 27 days. There are 1 – 4 offspring in a litter.
• At 7–8 weeks, the young emerge from the den and may begin dispersing during the breeding season at 12-16 weeks old.

Habits

• They prefer to live in forest habitats, including deciduous, mixed, or coniferous. Old-growth forest is often preferred over young forest.
• They are generally solitary animals except during the mating season.
• They are an opportunistic and omnivorous species, although animal prey is preferred. Their diet varies with season and prey availability.