Discussion
Thought some here might be interested. We have some living in our garden up here in the NW Highlands:
http://stevecarter.com/ansh/marten.htm
ITV were here last month filming them... it'll be on the Box Jan or Feb 2015 in a programme called 'Nature Nuts' - hosted by Julian Clary of all people.
http://stevecarter.com/ansh/marten.htm
ITV were here last month filming them... it'll be on the Box Jan or Feb 2015 in a programme called 'Nature Nuts' - hosted by Julian Clary of all people.
GetCarter said:
Thought some here might be interested. We have some living in our garden up here in the NW Highlands:
http://stevecarter.com/ansh/marten.htm
ITV were here last month filming them... it'll be on the Box Jan or Feb 2015 in a programme called 'Nature Nuts' - hosted by Julian Clary of all people.
Fantastic, you lucky git.http://stevecarter.com/ansh/marten.htm
ITV were here last month filming them... it'll be on the Box Jan or Feb 2015 in a programme called 'Nature Nuts' - hosted by Julian Clary of all people.
Thread revival time!
Pine Martens breeding in the New Forest
https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/24026531.pi...
Pine Martens breeding in the New Forest
https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/24026531.pi...
They are in abundance around us in Perthshire but very timid. Beautiful to see but frustrating if you (used to) keep chickens. We stopped keeping chickens after the third round of Total Wipe Out. I sold a car last year and the buyer flew up from Sussex to see it. Lovely guy - I picked him up from a train station and drove him 20 miles to our house. Just as we were pulling up a pine marten appeared from the field next door. “That’s a pine marten.” I said, feeling like a tour guide. He’d never heard of them and didn’t think it was very interesting! In 15 years in this house I’ve only seen one three or four times despite the evidence of them being around.
They do seem to co-exist with red squirrels quite nicely as we have loads of reds after we managed to remove the grey population over the course of about three years. This is the daily view from our kitchen window:
They do seem to co-exist with red squirrels quite nicely as we have loads of reds after we managed to remove the grey population over the course of about three years. This is the daily view from our kitchen window:
w1bbles said:
They do seem to co-exist with red squirrels quite nicely as we have loads of reds after we managed to remove the grey population over the course of about three years. This is the daily view from our kitchen window:
Yep same here. We watch the martins chase the reds, but the squirrels are so much lighter they can get to the very top of the trees.Below, one of two that visit every day... this one stares through our window until we throw a lump of cheese out. (Pic taken through said window)
Edited by GetCarter on Saturday 6th January 06:12
Why were they in decline (I assume they were if they are making a comeback ?).
Other predators ? Persecuted by humans ? Reduction in their habitat ?
Sounds like they can be viscous if they can wipe out some chickens.
I know minks can be utter pests and Jill for fun but I would have thought Pine Martins are more veggie/nut eaters mostly ?
Other predators ? Persecuted by humans ? Reduction in their habitat ?
Sounds like they can be viscous if they can wipe out some chickens.
I know minks can be utter pests and Jill for fun but I would have thought Pine Martins are more veggie/nut eaters mostly ?
SimonTheSailor said:
Why were they in decline (I assume they were if they are making a comeback ?).
Other predators ? Persecuted by humans ? Reduction in their habitat ?
Sounds like they can be viscous if they can wipe out some chickens.
I know minks can be utter pests and Jill for fun but I would have thought Pine Martins are more veggie/nut eaters mostly ?
Pine martens were very much persecuted, habitat loss has also been a big factor. They were hunted for fur and sport and targeted by game keepers, in some cases they still killed either purposely or inadvertently when vermin is targeted (same with raptors).Other predators ? Persecuted by humans ? Reduction in their habitat ?
Sounds like they can be viscous if they can wipe out some chickens.
I know minks can be utter pests and Jill for fun but I would have thought Pine Martins are more veggie/nut eaters mostly ?
They are classed as carnivorous, although they omnivorous and will eat all-sorts as they are opportunistic. A big part of their diet is still meat, voles being a favourite, along with birds, invertebrates and berries. They will take chickens like most predators will as they are such an easy meal. In some of their range they have taken to hunting the odd grey squirrel as they are much easier to catch than reds due to being heavier and less agile. They could in time become a ally in grey squirrel control, particularly in Northern regions where the reds are clinging on.
As for mink, they can definitely be a pest, especially being non native and have had a big impact on water voles an bank nesting birds. However, they do not kill for fun. A bit like foxes, if they find an easy source of food like chickens, they will catch as many as they can. They will then cache them and return to collect the others. If they get disturbed they might not return for a couple of days. By then the dead chickens will most likely have been cleaned up giving them the reputation that they kill for fun.
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