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Pine marten spotted in Yorkshire
Pine martens are the UK’s second rarest carnivorous mammal.
First confirmed sighting in 25 years

A live pine marten has been spotted on camera in Yorkshire for the first time in over three decades.

There have been no confirmed sightings since 1993, when the skull of a pine marten was found in the county. The last record of a living pine marten, however, was around 35 years ago.

The Yorkshire Pine Marten Project is run by non-profit enterprise NatureSpy and the Forestry Commission. It was launched four years ago to prove pine martens are present in Yorkshire.

Camera traps are placed in various locations on the North Yorkshire Moors to monitor particular areas 24/7, for months at a time.

Pine martens are the UK’s second rarest carnivorous mammal. Proving they are present in Yorkshire was described as a “massive achievement” for the team involved, by NatureSpy’s project co-ordinator Ed Snell.

There have been a number of unconfirmed sightings of the creatures over the years and recent scat DNA tests confirmed their presence in Northumberland. However, previous searches by other organisations proved inconclusive.

Cath Bashforth, an ecologist at the Forestry Commission, added: “It is great to have a confirmed sighting of pine marten on Forestry Commission land. Supporting on this project has been exciting and to discover they are living within our forests after so many years is fantastic! We are looking forward to progressing the project further.”

Going forward, the project will take a more scientific approach, collecting DNA samples, estimating population numbers, investigating habitat preferences and producing habitat management proposals. A second fundraising initiative is underway to raise money for resources for the next phase of the project.

Image © NatureSpy/Youtube

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.