Pine marten family
Where to look?
An animal that had long been on our wish list, was the European pine marten. However, catching sight of these shy beings proved to be no easy task. Mostly active during the cover of night and dusk, they presented quite a challenge. However, once you knew of a tree housing their nest, patience would be your greatest ally. Every four hours a pine marten will venture out from its sanctuary to do its business.
Finally, after having heard of a pine marten sighting in a particular region of the Netherlands, we seized the opportunity and set out on our quest. The area was quite an extensive one, leaving us at loss where to begin our search for the tree they were said to be in. So, we decided to park near the natural park and rely on pure luck when setting out.
Arriving at the break of dawn, the morning sun casting its gentle glow, we scanned each tree we passed. Could one of them be the tree? After an hour's worth of searching, we crossed another path, still looking around meticulously. Suddenly,—could it be? Indeed, there it was! A hole of ample size, perfectly suited for a pine marten! We excitedly unpacked our gear, settled ourselves comfortably, and prepared to wait.
We found them…
Half an hour later, a stirring within the tree's opening caught our attention. Could the pine marten be emerging so soon? Our anticipation was rewarded as a fully grown pine marten cautiously emerged, carefully surveying its surroundings. It nimbly ascended the trunk and vanished from sight. A short while later, it descended once more, slipping back into its sanctuary. Though the encounter had been brief, we reveled in the satisfaction of finally spotting a pine marten!
Respecting the environment and so as not to disturb the martens, we departed in hushed tones. Eager for more, we planned to return later in the evening, well aware that martens, including their young ones, would be livelier during the late afternoon and twilight hours. And indeed, at around four o'clock, we witnessed the return of the mother marten. Ascending the tree once again, she settled upon a branch, blending seamlessly with her surroundings.
We waited patiently. As expected, a tiny marten soon peeked out from the hole. To our delight, it was pushed out of the hole by, assumingly, another young marten. With only two feet desperately clinging to the edge, the little marten skillfully hoisted itself back inside, and curiously looked around. Shortly after, another curious face emerged, eager to join in.
What an incredible adventure this had been! When all of the martens had once again disappeared into the tree, we departed, careful not to cause any noise or other form of disturbance. Would we have another opportunity in the future? We certainly hoped so!
Mother pine marten
Baby pine martens
Curious marten mom
