The pine marten is related to the badger, otter, mink and Irish stoat. It is cat-sized with chestnut brown fur and a distinctive creamy yellow bib.
It is an arboreal or tree-dwelling animal and has sharp, non-retractile claws for climbing trees and a long tail to help it balance as it travels along branches.
Pine martens are mainly nocturnal but can be spotted by day during the summer and autumn.
Is it Native?
The pine marten is native to Ireland because it has been living on the island for at least 6,000 years and is known as Cat crainn or tree cat. It was probably brought here by Neolithic man as a source of fur.
Pine martens almost became extinct in the last century but were then legally protected and are once again present in every county.
Where does it live?
The pine marten's excellent climbing skills allows it to use trees to avoid predators, such as the fox. It rears its young, called kits, in tree cavities or in rock crevices, burrows, buildings, bird nests, squirrel dreys, and log piles.
What does it eat?
Although pine martens are carnivores, they have a varied diet and will eat what is available and plentiful. They eat small mammals, fruit and berries, birds, eggs, insects and sheep carrion.
The footage was filmed with a secret camera at a site in Co Clare with thanks to ECO FACT.
To learn more about Irish mammals and the work being done to protect them go to Vincent Wildlife Trust.
The photo was taken by their officer Ruth Hanniffy.
