Reds did evolve alongside pine martens and seem to have learnt how to avoid being caught. The pine marten was once the second most common carnivore in Britain but woodland clearance coupled with a drive to eradicate the predators by Victorian gamekeepers pushed the little mammal to just a few remote areas of Scotland. Pine martens are more likely to prey on grey squirrels, as red ones are not so easy for them to catch. Pine marten in meadow steals a baby squirrel from a tree nest. Red squirrels are under great pressure from the invasive grey squirrel population in the UK. In the Scottish Highlands, where grey squirrels have always been absent, there are healthy populations of red squirrels, as pine martens only eat very small numbers of red squirrels (making up <2% of their total diet). The forests she has studied are clearly populated by both pine martens and red squirrels. Pine martens and red squirrels have evolved together throughout their Eurasian range in a natural predator/prey relationship, though studies in Britain and Ireland highlight a low occurrence of red squirrel in pine marten diet. Pine marten numbers are rising in … But it may have another upside, as pine martens could be bad news for one of the UK’s least popular animals: the invasive grey squirrel. 6 hours ago. Red squirrels and their dreys are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). Why the pine marten is not every red squirrel's best friend. is part of their nature. The photos here show a pine marten (above) and a red squirrel (below) both caught on the same trail camera at a site near Cwrt-Y-Cadno: If all goes well, the number of pine martens will continue to increase and the animals will expand into suitable woodland habitat as juveniles disperse. Red squirrel finds pine marten a fearsome ally in its fight for survival This article is more than 7 years old Research shows pine martens drive out alien grey squirrels, allowing reds to increase Kielder is England’s largest forest and a stronghold for our native red squirrels. Studies are ongoing but this could be great news for the endangered red squirrel, as well as a range of trees that are often damaged by greys stripping their bark. In a small number of other studies conducted elsewhere in Europe, reds were in fact a significant seasonal component of pine marten diet – up to 53% in one case. The research took place in the Scottish Borders – an area which pine martens have recently begun to recolonise, Central Scotland – where there is a more established pine marten population – and in the Highlands, where there are no grey squirrels but a long established pine marten population coexists with native red squirrels. In fact, in the Irish study, the areas that red squirrels had recolonised naturally were exclusively those with healthy pine marten … Red squirrel numbers are on the up in Northern Ireland and experts believe we have the pine marten to thank for the trend. While pine martens will very occasionally eat red squirrels, they don’t seem to have a negative impact on population numbers. Hunting for smaller animals such as frogs, squirrels, birds, etc. It is an offence to intentionally or recklessly kill, injure or take (capture) a red squirrel or to damage or destroy any structure red squirrels use for shelter or protection, and to disturb them while they are occupying their shelter. Collaborating with the Vincent Wildlife Trust and Red Squirrels Northern England, we are now collecting data in the largest survey of pine martens and red squirrels ever carried out in Kielder to find out more about the distribution of these rare species. Pine martens are helping red squirrel populations recover, since the greys are easier for the martens to catch. Grey squirrels, an invasive American species have been a) pests and more importantly b) decimating our native red squirrel population unchecked through competition and as vectors of disease. Emma Sheehy baits feeders with nuts and, in return for a free meal, the reds leave a little fur sample behind. Red squirrels are being saved from extinction by a weasel-like predator that is hunting non-native grey squirrels.