Pine marten

[MUDD 374]

Seeing the weather is good at the minute I brought the family away to co.donegal to the beach for the day. just over an hour off driving i seen a young starling flapping across the road in front off me and then got its wings and flew off, within seconds what i thought was a pine marten ran out in the same direction as the bird had across the road and lucky enough I didn't hit it. I said to the missus what I thought it was. I've never seen one in the flesh before surprisingly. Further on up the road I seen one lying dead that had been hit by a car. Then another one about a mile later only this was double the size off the two I'd seen before. 3 in one day on the road and im hunting over 15 years and never seen one in a field !! Are they abundant in certain areas ?

Edited May 27, 2012 by MUDD

[mackel 31]

mud have a mate in north cavan and he says there is loads of them around him

the odd one in west meath nice animal but been told they do some damage too

mack

[danny300 2,240]

good few around my way

[MUDD 374]

There's plenty off lakes and woodland in Fermanagh were I was driving threw so I suppose it's ideal for them. Never heard off anyone aroun here hunting them before though.

[GrCh 856]

i've heard they get the same size of a cat?

[BEARINATOR 2,913]

i've heard they get the same size of a cat?

:yes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_pine_marten none about here though

[GrCh 856]

would one be a test for a terrier? Mustelid family (wolverines,fishers,pigs etc) are very tough animals.

[MUDD 374]

i've heard they get the same size of a cat?

The 1 st one I nearly ran over with the car was a bit smaller than a ferret, so was the second one that was lying dead on the road. The 3rd road kill marten wasnt as big as a cat but it was about the size off a half grew cat. I should have stopped and took a picture but it was a bad road with no layby.

[BEARINATOR 2,913]

Yes they would GrCh although totally illegal now of course

[GrCh 856]

Yes they would GrCh although totally illegal now of course

 

lol these b*****ds laws.

[BEARINATOR 2,913]

Yes they would GrCh although totally illegal now of course

 

lol these b*****ds laws.

 

Laws are only broke when you get caught , seen a few up in scotland on my mates place and they are feisty buggers

[MoChara 1,632]

There's plenty off lakes and woodland in Fermanagh were I was driving threw so I suppose it's ideal for them. Never heard off anyone aroun here hunting them before though.

I used to live in fermanagh, and the place is FULL of them.. Friend of the family was tortured by them at night, hoking through his bins lol he got really sick of the mess they would leave behind them.. Seen a right few dead on the road too.

[poacher3161 1,766]

Always wanted to see one in the wild and a few trips up scotland never got to see one on a hawking holiday some years back in lochindorb i commented to some lads i was with having a drink at the side of the loch at dusk and commented it might be a good place to see a pine martin when one of them said they dont fly at night you silly twat.

[dabigmc 23]

Mudd I hope I am not coming across pedantic....but are you sure these were not mink you were seeing?

Firstly pine martins reside in wooded areas, forests, etc. They mainly come out to hunt, roam and rummage at night. They are extremely elusive and shy mammals!

They are considered Ireland's most rare mammal.

So to have encountered 3, in daylight hours,roadside, over a very short distance in the car strikes me as odd and unlikely.

Apart from the fact that they are protected by the Wildlife Act, I personally think they are beautiful and fascinating creatures....so to even suggest hunting them????

[MUDD 374]

Mudd I hope I am not coming across pedantic....but are you sure these were not mink you were seeing?

Firstly pine martins reside in wooded areas, forests, etc. They mainly come out to hunt, roam and rummage at night. They are extremely elusive and shy mammals!

They are considered Ireland's most rare mammal.

So to have encountered 3, in daylight hours,roadside, over a very short distance in the car strikes me as odd and unlikely.

Apart from the fact that they are protected by the Wildlife Act, I personally think they are beautiful and fascinating creatures....so to even suggest hunting them????

Well considering 2 were already dead via road kill Which could have happened at night, I'd say it's safe to say they are pine martens, also the posts have already confimed that fermanaghs riddled with them.

Your watching far too much Springwatch dabigmc lol.

Edited May 31, 2012 by MUDD