Pine marten reintroductions in Wales and England are proving successful, with populations establishing and breeding and preliminary evidence suggesting positive effects on native red squirrel recovery.
Translocated pine martens experience capture and translocation stress followed by the challenge of establishing territories in unfamiliar landscapes. Monitoring shows that most translocated animals successfully establish and reproduce, suggesting welfare outcomes are good for individuals that survive the initial establishment period. Long-term welfare depends on tolerance from landowners and reduced persecution pressure from historic trapping cultures. The ecological benefits of marten recovery, including impacts on grey squirrel populations, create a positive welfare cascade through the ecosystem.