pine marten
CR

pine marten

Martes martes

UnknownLCEULCEU

Photo: Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Pine martens face severe population declines due to extensive habitat fragmentation from deforestation and urban development, which isolates populations and reduces genetic diversity. Historical persecution and ongoing illegal trapping have further decimated populations, while competition with introduced species and vehicle strikes continue to threaten remaining individuals.

Threat summary

Habitat

Mature coniferous and mixed forests with dense canopy cover, particularly spruce, pine, and fir woodlands between 200-2000m elevation. Also utilizes rocky outcrops, stone walls, and woodland edges with suitable denning sites in tree hollows, rock crevices, and abandoned buildings.

TERRESTRIAL· majorTERRESTRIAL· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is pine marten classified as Critically Endangered?
pine marten is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Pine martens face severe population declines due to extensive habitat fragmentation from deforestation and urban development, which isolates populations and reduces genetic diversity. Historical persecution and ongoing illegal trapping have further decimated populations, while competition with introduced species and vehicle strikes continue to threaten remaining individuals.
Where does pine marten live?
pine marten occurs in Åland Islands, Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, and Belarus (plus 45 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to pine marten?
The main threats to pine marten are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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