The pine marten is recovering in England after near-extinction south of Scotland. Reintroduction programmes in Wales and the Forest of Dean are beginning to show success, with implications for both pine marten welfare and red squirrel recovery.
Pine martens in fragmented woodland face welfare challenges from isolation, road mortality and human persecution. Despite full legal protection, some individuals are still illegally killed near game rearing areas. Reintroduced animals face the stress of translocation — a welfare cost justified by long-term population viability. Den site availability is a key welfare bottleneck: without suitable tree cavities or nest boxes, breeding females cannot successfully rear kits. Provision of nest boxes in reintroduction areas has demonstrably increased breeding success.