Pine martin found in Derbyshire

The pine marten was once the second most common carnivore in Britain, but persecution and and habitat loss has driven them close to extinction in England.  The last confirmed sighting of a pine marten in Derbyshire was an individual shot in Baslow in 2002 which is now a taxidermy specimen in Sheffield Museum.

Recently wildlife photographer Andy Parkinson spotted one dead on the road between Belper and Ripley and passed the information on to enable it to be retrieved.  Vincent Wildlife Trust has confirmed it was a male.

It’s really exciting that this mammal has been discovered and I hope it’s the first of many to be seen in the county.  Pine martens need woodlands containing enough food for them.  Derbyshire Wildlife Trust is working hard to make more of these wild places for these special animals particularly in the Lower Derwent Valley.