An elusive and endangered Scottish mammal has been caught on camera in an Aberdeen wood for the first time.
The pine marten – a protected species – was filmed running up a tree in Hazlehead Woods by one of Aberdeen City Council’s countryside rangers.
Native to Scotland, the creatures can be found living across the Highlands and the Grampian region, yet they are rarely spotted within Aberdeen itself.
Rangers from the local authority had previously found evidence of the animals – which are closely related to weasels and stoats – around Hazlehead, but the night vision footage taken at about 4am on March 24 marks the first time one of them has been filmed in the area.
The wildlife rangers had initially hoped their hidden camera would capture footage of the more common deer species or red squirrels in the area, but officer Ian Talboys said they were amazed to find the pine marten sneaking into shot when they reviewed the footage.
Mr Talboys said: “It’s fantastic to have solid proof that there is a pine marten in Hazlehead Woods as it is an endangered species that is native to Scotland.
“In addition, the work that the ranger service has carried out. along with the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels project, has resulted in the red squirrel population increasing at Hazlehead.
“It shows that with countryside management by Aberdeen City Council and help from volunteers, our environment is getting closer to returning to its original state.”
Around the size of a small cat, the predatory pine martens were found throughout much of mainland Britain until the 19th century.
However, years of habitat destruction, persecution by gamekeepers and hunters targeting them for their fur drastically reduced their population.
Numbers have since recovered, but they are still one of the rarest native mammals in Britain, with an estimated population of only 3,000 to 4,000.
Jean Morrison, the vice convener of the city council’s communities committee said: “This is such a fantastic piece of footage and well done to the countryside rangers for capturing it.
“We hope the sighting will encourage people to come and have a look at the wildlife that can be found on our city’s doorstep, from dolphins at Torry Battery to pine martens and red squirrels at Hazlehead Park.”
