Pine martens have recovered strongly in Scotland following legal protection and are now being used to suppress grey squirrel populations through a natural predator-prey mechanism.
Pine martens face welfare threats from illegal trapping, road traffic and den site disturbance during the sensitive breeding season. Their recovery in Scotland represents a significant conservation success, but dispersing individuals moving into England face unprotected status in game-managed estates. Genetic bottlenecks from the small founding population increase disease susceptibility.