Once again, the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society gathered for their monthly meeting, featuring a captivating talk on the study of pine martens. The meeting, held in October, was conducted through Zoom due to the unavailability of the lecture room for an in-person gathering. Johnny Birks, accompanied by John Martin, presented their talk titled “Twenty years of studying Pine Martens in Galloway Forest Park.” Both speakers have prior experience working with Nature England and the Environment Agency. The pine marten, the largest British member of the mustelid (weasel) family, is an aggressive omnivore that primarily preys on small mammals. Found in forests, these creatures breed in tree cavities and are predominantly nocturnal, making them seldom seen by humans.
Historically, pine martens faced severe persecution from humans, primarily for their fur or sport. Once numbering around 150,000 in Britain, their population drastically declined by 1915, becoming one of the rarest carnivores in the country. Reintroduction efforts began in the early 1980s, particularly in Galloway, where they had become extinct by the mid-1800s. To support the recovery of the population, Birks and Martin initiated a programme involving the provision of artificial breeding sites using specially designed boxes or dens. The challenge lies in the pine martens’ preference for commercial forestry plantations over mature broadleaf woodlands, where natural dens are abundant.
Initially, the introduced boxes featured two entrance holes but were heavy and limited to large conifers due to imminent felling. Subsequent modifications, utilising lightweight materials and adjusting the box design, led to successful breeding within the Fleet Valley basin. Monitoring pine martens posed challenges, with genetic analysis of faeces proving to be a valuable method for population estimates. The use of thermal imaging further enhanced detection of occupied boxes. During the Q&A session following the talk, interesting discussions arose, including the pine martens’ impact on red squirrels and ground-nesting birds. The next society meeting is scheduled for November 8, featuring surveyor Bruce Keith speaking on “Scotland beneath the Surface.”
In conclusion, the efforts and findings presented during the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society meeting shed light on the intricate dynamics of pine marten conservation and research. Through innovative methods and dedicated conservationists, the population of these elusive creatures in the region shows signs of positive growth, offering hope for their continued existence and ecological contributions.