In September 2025, 19 pine martens (9 female, 10 male) were successfully released at secret locations across Exmoor. This marks the return of a species once common locally and is the second phase of the Two Moors Pine Marten Project, building on last year’s successful reintroduction to Dartmoor. 

The small cat-sized animals were once common in the South West but fell victim to the loss of their favoured woodland habitat and to human persecution. 

So how do we bring pine martens back to where they belong?

Part 1: The Preparation 

Reintroducing a species like the elusive pine marten takes years of planning, research and coordination. Additionally, building positive relationships with landowners and local communities is essential. In the months leading up to the release, activity ramps up as staff and volunteers train, build and prepare for the arrival of these incredible animals.

A huge thank you to everyone who made this possible — our funders, partners, landowners, volunteers, community groups, and local businesses. Your hard work and passion brought this vision to life.

Just building the release pens alone took an incredible 490 volunteer hours!

Part 2: The Arrival 

Our 19 pine martens made quite the journey! Each one came from a healthy wild population in Scotland and underwent full health checks before travelling over 500 miles in a specially adapted, temperature-controlled vehicle.

Over five trips, each more than 14 hours through the night, teams worked tirelessly to ensure their safety and comfort. 

Upon arrival on Exmoor, the pine martens were taken to individual release pens equipped with a den box, food, and water, which gave them time to quietly acclimatise and de-stress before their release.

Cameras within the release pens gave the Pine Marten Team an opportunity to observe their personalities and welfare.

Part 3: The Release

After spending 72 hours settling into their release pens, the doors were finally opened in the early evening.

Many of the pine martens were understandably quite cautious and took their time approaching the exit. Even then, a few lingered, hesitant and unsure, taking a couple of hours to finally step out into their new home.

Cameras set up outside the pens caught the precious moment the pine martens slipped into their new wild homes on Exmoor. Watch a particularly cautious individual here.

What's next?

Pine martens are solitary, nocturnal animals that live at low densities and avoid humans. To monitor their movements from afar, they have been fitted with a radio collar, designed to drop off after 6–9 months. 

Since the release, teams of volunteers have been been traipsing across Exmoor tracking these collars, keeping an eye on our new pine martens as they they explore, settle, and establish territories across the landscape.

Additionally, the pine marten team are working closely with landowners to set up camera traps to further monitor their wellbeing.

Over the coming years, we expect the Exmoor and Dartmoor (released 2024) populations to gradually grow and connect creating a stable pine marten population across the South West, restoring balance to our woodlands once more.

In Summer 2025, the first kits were born to individuals reintroduced to Dartmoor in 2024 by the Two Moors Pine Marten Project. See the footage and press release here. As they approach their first winter they will be getting ready to leave their mother and strike out to find their own territories. But if the habitat they’ve grown up in is great, they may stick around a little longer, sharing their first winter with mum before dispersing early next year.

This is a brilliant sign that pine martens will thrive once again in the South West and hopefully next spring (2026) we will see kits on both Exmoor and Dartmoor!