Pine Marten
Bele’r Coed
Martes martes
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Status:
The pine marten is thought to still persist in Snowdonia, but at extremely low density. It is possible that the species is now extinct in the area. It is a native mustelid, protected on Schedule 6 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (animals which may not be killed or taken by certain methods) and is a UK, Wales and Snowdonia priority Biodiversity Action Plan Species.
Pine marten were once widespread across the UK but by the beginning of the 1900s were almost extinct in England and Wales. It is thought that a few remnant populations managed to persist in certain areas, one of which was in Snowdonia. A low level of sightings have been recorded, verified and collated by the Vincent Wildlife Trust (www.vwt.org.uk) and show various hotspots around Wales and England. Within Snowdonia, the focal areas have been around Dyffryn Ffestiniog, Gwydr Forest, Aberhirnant Forest and the Dyfi Forest. However, where follow up has been possible, either no evidence of pine marten has been found, or the records turned out to be grey squirrel, polecat or mink. Recent scat surveys of the focal areas have not turned up any evidence within Snowdonia, but a scat was found in Cwm Rheidol, just north of Aberystwyth, in 2007.