21/08/2026
🦦 The elusive Pine marten (Martes martes) is a mustelid and as such is related to weasels and otters. They have round ears, quite short legs and long bodies and are around the size of a domestic cat. Like cats, they are very agile and excellent climbers and when they fall they twist to land on their feet!
🌲 They take their name from their habitat, living mostly in woodland and preferring to spend most of their time in pine trees, although they will also live in other areas. They are found throughout Europe, but in the UK they are largely confined to Scotland. They live alone, only coming together to breed in the summer. They like to breed above ground and will create their dens in natural tree cavities or ready made holes created by other creatures. They are very territorial and cover a large area, some travelling as far as five miles in one night!
🦷 Although very cute looking, they will defend themselves if threatened and have very sharp teeth and claws. You are unlikely to ever come across one however, as they are shy, largely nocturnal and quite rare. By the early 20th century the species was almost wiped out completely.
🚫 Pine martens are now protected in the UK by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and numbers are slowly increasing.
🌍 Scotland
📷 Nikon Z9 and Nikkor Z100-400mm
🖥️ More photos on the website: https://iandouglas.photo/my-latest-work
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