One of Britain's rarest native mammals has been rescued from an unlikely place — a rubbish bin. The two-week-old pine marten was brought to a wildlife hospital on April 21, weighing a mere 105 grams.
The tiny kit was discovered in a rubbish bin in Powys, Wales, alongside two of his deceased siblings. He was taken to the centre by a hedgehog carer who initially believed it to be a fox cub.
First Pine Marten in 42 Years
Natalie Gould, a member of staff at the hospital, revealed that a pine marten had never previously been admitted to The Vale Wildlife Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre in Tewkesbury throughout its 42-year history.
She said: "It is our first ever pine marten - adult or baby - in almost 42 years, so it's very exciting. He is progressing well and is with one of our hand rearing team, and will stay with her until weaned, when he will start to become more independent, so we become more and more hands off, to ensure he doesn't become imprinted."
Population Recovery
Pine martens were once commonplace across the UK, but suffered a dramatic decline due to habitat destruction and historical persecution, largely on account of their thick fur. The wildlife centre says that cases such as this indicate the species' population is gradually making a comeback.
Natalie added: "He will likely stay with us - unless we can find another rescue that has a kit of a similar age, which is unlikely - until late August, when we will work with other organisations to find a suitable release site for him."
Social Media Announcement
A message on the hospital's social media page states: "One of the UK's rarest native mammals - part of the mustelid family (alongside otters, weasels, and badgers). They're agile climbers, spending much of their time in trees, and are known for their beautiful chocolate-brown fur and distinctive creamy 'bib' on their chest."
"Pine martens were once widespread across the UK but suffered huge declines due to habitat loss and persecution. Thankfully, populations are slowly recovering in some areas, with this kit's admission a sign of that."
"For this little one unless we're incredibly lucky enough to find another kit of a similar age (which is rather unlikely, but you never know), he'll remain with us until late August. At that point, we'll work with other organisations to find a safe and suitable release site for him."
The hospital concluded: "A truly special admission for all of us at Vale Wildlife Hospital."
