Pine martens were virtually extinct in England and Wales but are being reintroduced from Scotland, with welfare implications throughout capture, translocation, and release.
Pine martens captured for translocation experience acute stress during trapping and handling. Transport in individual compartments causes confinement stress. Release into unfamiliar territories creates initial spatial disorientation and increased vulnerability to predation and starvation. Animals that fail to establish territories face prolonged nutritional stress. Well-designed reintroduction programs minimise these welfare harms through careful release site selection, health screening, and post-release monitoring.