User:Lollipopalop

Pine Martens
The pine marten is almost extinct throughout Britain but a few have survived around Wales, the Marches, Northern England and especially in Scotland.

Appearance
They are about the size of a small domestic cat. They are quite slim with chocolate brown fur, with a white bib on the throat and a thick, bushy tail. They are members of the weasel family and other breeds are found in continental Europe and North America such as the beech or stone marten and the fisher and American marten.

Habitat
Pine martens are often found in Scotland and are sometimes seen in Northern England and Wales although they are almost extinct. They prefer woodland, mainly coniferous but can also be found on rocky moorland and hillsides or cliffs covered in scrub. They live in old bird nests, squirrel dreys or holes in trees.

Behaviour
They like to hunt in trees or on the ground. They hunt small animals such as bugs or berries, fungi or carrion. They are not very aggressive about territory however they still mark it as their own. They are very playful and curious.

Breeding
They only breed once a year, in July or August but the females don't get pregnant until January. Litters are then born in late March or April and they are normally born in threes. At birth they are blind and covered in yellow-white fur, which later on turns to grey then to brown. The babies will spend at least 6 weeks in the den before the go out and the family stays together until they are 6 months old. Their normal lifespan is 3 to 4 years but they have been known to live for 11 years.