Citizen Science Survey Marten Month

About pine martens

First population reinforcement project [Scotland to Wales] 2015-2017

Life span in the wild 7-10 years

Territory sizes Up to 30 square kilometres

Introducing Marten Month

Pine martens were once believed to be the second most common carnivore in Britain, but by 1915 had become the second rarest. Coordinated conservation work has helped pine martens to recover in some areas, but to ensure we are working in the right places, we need up-to-date information on their distribution as well as understanding people’s views on pine martens.

What is Marten Month?

Marten Month is the first dedicated citizen science survey for pine martens in Britain. Marten Month will take place in September each year, launching in September 2026. It aims to gather records and public attitudes towards pine martens and raise awareness of Britain's rarest mustelid.

Pine martens are elusive and difficult to survey and so observations recorded by members of the public can help provide information on the recovery and distribution of this species.

How can I help?

Recorders are asked to provide information on their sighting and share their views and feelings about the interaction. This basic measure of human-wildlife coexistence will help us understand more about how people feel about pine martens and to better support them to live together.

Every record counts

Have you seen a pine marten? Report a pine marten sighting here

Records can be submitted from anytime during the year.

Perhaps you’re not sure if you’ve seen a pine marten, but you have seen something you’ve never seen before. Pine martens are a recovering species and may be new to communities in most of England and areas of Wales and southern Scotland. They are rare, elusive, and need support to recover.

Although they can be easily mistaken for other species, such as stoats and polecats, we encourage you to report your sighting — even if you are not totally sure it is a pine marten. The more detailed a description of the animal that you can provide... or ia photo or a video, you saw will help us to decide what it is. If you can send in , that would be

Verified pine marten records will contribute to our Marten Map – Britain’s pine marten distribution map.

Banner pine marten image ©David Baird

How to identify a pine marten

Pine martens have dark brown fur with a creamy-yellow throat patch known as a bib. Their winter fur is thick and fluffy for warmth while their summer fur is shorter and darker. Every pine marten's bib is unique — much like human fingerprints.

Adult pine martens are similar in size to a medium-sized domestic cat. Adult males are approximately 40% larger than females.

Pine marten ©Robert Cruickshanks

Pine martens and other mustelids

Pine martens look similar to some other British mustelid species. Stoats and polecats are sometimes mis-identified as pine martens.

Stoats are much smaller than pine martens, they have creamy white fur that extends along their entire belly, and a small, black-tipped tail.
Polecats have a distinctive dark eye mask, more rounded ears, and a shorter, less fluffy tail.

Learn more about pine martens

Learn more about pine martens Vincent Wildlife Trust | Pine Marten, including FAQs

Visit our dedicated pine marten website to learn about their conservation and our Martens on the Move project!