Virtually extinct predator is RETURNING to England’s forests after vanishing 150 years ago

AN ENDANGERED predator could soon return to England after becoming largely extinct for more than a century. The cat-sized species were once commonplace across the UK, but were lost due to hunting and the decline of their preferred woodland habitat. The small mammals may soon return to England Credit: Alamy Pine martens, a small animal belonging to the mustelid family (which includes stoats, weasels, and badgers), may soon return to their natural habitat in south east England. According to new research from Kent Wildlife Trust, the omnivores – who feed on voles, fungi and bunnies – thrive in landscapes with extensive woodland cover. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! As a result, highly suitable habitats have been identified across southeast England, as well as wooded parts of the Southwest and Gloucestershire. Other suitable areas include East Yorkshire, East Anglia and sections of Britain’s western coast. Ella Lewis, lead author of the study and a nature-based evidence officer for the trust, said: “These new findings present the exciting potential for pine martens to return to their former range in the future. “As well as being a native species, pine martens are an important woodland predator and create complex interactions with other animals, contributing to more balanced and resilient ecosystems.” Reintroduction efforts have also proved successful in areas such as Devon, Somerset, Wales and the Lake District. Pine martens were considered largely extinct from England and Wales by the early 20th century, as a result of being hunted for sport and the loss of 95 per cent of woodland cover in Britain. Most read in The Sun Despite becoming one of the country’s rarest predators, the species population grew in Scotland where they remain largely confined to. However, as woodland cover has doubled again in England, there is hope the species can now reclaim their home in the nation’s forests. Comment now