Scottish Borders Pine Marten Group
Working to monitor pine martens in the Scottish Borders.
11/08/2024
Today, members of the group carried out another pine marten survey in the region. There was no s**t found but plenty of badger and roe deer prints. There was also a couple of potential pine marten prints found in some muddy patches.
Lovely footage of a pair of local pine martens, caught on camera by a friend of the group.
Our local pine martens are very active at the moment and we’re catching them on camera at all times of day. This fallen tree is on the main route of one family, notice how this one scent marks at various points along the tree.
Red squirrel checks out the t-sniffer left out to monitor the pine martens.
Always nice to see a pine marten in daylight. A brilliant chance to see that chocolatey brown coat up close. Notice the bum wiggle towards the end as the pine marten marks its territory. S/he has been scent marking here several times over the last week.
07/07/2024
Managed to see my first ever pine marten, live and in the flesh, last night at the amazing Scottish Photography Hides. S/he didn’t stay long but to have one sitting right in front of you rather than just an image on a trail camera was truly special. They really are special creatures and it’s exciting to think that they are doing so well in southern Scotland after many years of persecution.
22/06/2024
Trying out some T-sniffers at a pine marten monitoring site. Not quite the intended target….
Some scent marking from one of our local pine martens.
11/06/2024
Would you like to become a member of the group? By becoming a member you will be added to our mailing list to be kept up to date on our progress and have the chance to help us on surveys or at events. It's free to join and you are under no obligation to participate in anything - just enjoy our updates and find out ways that you can help.
Scottish Borders Pine Marten Group Membership Application Please use this form to apply for membership of the Scottish Borders Pine Marten Group (SBPMG). Please read our constitution before completing this form.
Lovely footage of one of this year’s kits…
Fantastic footage of a neighbouring pine marten...
09/05/2024
Today, members of the group travelled to Kielder Forest for a fantastic day learning all about pine marten monitoring and surveying. After very informative talks from Johnny Birks and Stephanie Johnstone from VWT we went out into the field to learn about monitoring den boxes using trail cameras and thermal imagers (using an empty box and one that used a hot water bottle to mimic a sleeping marten) carried out s**t surveys and had a chance to examine different types of bait stations. We’ve all come away from the training inspired and excited to put our newly learned skills into practice!
04/05/2024
Pine marten meets badger in a borders woodland.
01/04/2024
Did you know that individual pine martens can be identified by the patterns on their bibs? All pine martens have a creamy white bib that stretches from under their chin and down their chest. However, the size, shape and patterns on these bibs vary between individuals. No two pine martens have the same pattern, much like we all have unique fingerprints, and so we can use these bib patterns to identify individuals.
Our local pine martens certainly have no problem with finding food. This is a good sign - although I wish they’d show a bit of interest in the food I put out so I can get some pics of their bibs…!
Another pine marten passes through a local badger sett. This one looks like it’s caught something for its dinner.
Some more footage from deep in a Borders woodland. Although pine martens are classed as carnivores, they are highly opportunistic and will eat a varied diet that includes small mammals, fruit, carrion and small birds. This marten seems to have caught something for its supper. The fact that there is enough natural food sources to support them here is an excellent sign.
So, on a scale of 1 to 10, how excited do you think I am at the moment…..? Absolutely buzzing to have two pine martens on camera - confirming that there is definitely two around as we suspected!
Looking through some old trail camera footage and I came across a video from April 2021. This was one of the first times I had captured a pine marten on video, just outside Melrose, and is what started my interest in these brilliant creatures. The video has been slowed down as the original is so quick, but you can clearly see that the marten is carrying something in its mouth. There are a few theories (grey squirrel, young rabbit, maybe even a kit) but we'll never be able to tell for certain. What is certain is that pine martens have been around the central borders area for at least 3-4 years but it is only now that we are starting to see real evidence and capture them regularly on camera. The question now is how much further down the Tweed valley have they spread...? If you have any sightings (confirmed or suspected) then please let us know as it will help us direct our future surveys. You can do this by completing the sightings form that is pinned to the top of the page. All sightings are kept confidential and will only be shared with the relevant organisations, such as the Vincent Wildlife Trust to help support their Martens on the Move project. Lisa (Chair of Scottish Borders Pine Marten Group)
Local pine marten! Thanks to Shell Smith for the footage.
How wonderful is this!
A local pine marten. Notice how it scent marks the log as it walks along. This is a common behaviour in mustelids in order to mark territories and let other martens know who’s around.
25/02/2024
Today SBPMG carried out our first official pine marten survey. We walked a transect looking for field signs (i.e., poo!) and we certainly weren’t disappointed. Plenty of fox s**t along the forest rides but also pine marten s**t and a print! Owl pellets, squirrel feeding signs and the sounds of ravens added to a pretty perfect day.
Blink and you miss it but sometimes monitoring other wildlife (in this case badgers) helps you find others!
06/02/2024
Great to see pine martens doing so well in Dumfries and Galloway. Surveying is such an important part in helping these beautiful, native creatures - here’s hoping we start to see similar results in the Scottish Borders.
Ae forest pine marten poo count shows number growth A "basic survey method" shows the creatures are doing well in two south of Scotland forests.
Videos (show all)
