Six rescued pine martens have been given a wonderful second chance at life after months of specialist care ended with their release back into the Scottish wild.
The group had been cared for at the Scottish SPCA’s National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Fishcross, but for three of the youngsters, the journey back to freedom began when they were particularly vulnerable.
Oak, Spruce and Aspen arrived at the centre at the beginning of May after their mother sadly died. Their eyes were still closed and they were completely dependent on their carers. Because they needed feeding so frequently — including throughout the night — a member of the wildlife team initially took the tiny kits home to provide the round-the-clock attention they needed.
From Tiny Kits to Adventurous Pine Martens
As the weeks passed, Oak, Spruce and Aspen grew stronger, more confident and increasingly adventurous.
Soon they were doing exactly what young pine martens should be doing: climbing branches, exploring their surroundings and developing the skills they would eventually need to survive independently.
The trio were later introduced to three older rescued pine martens named Hazel, Cedar and Apple. Together, all six moved into a large outdoor enclosure where their rehabilitation continued and preparations began for their eventual return to the wild.
Then came the moment everyone had been working towards.
On Tuesday, 8 September, all six pine martens were released back into the wild, ending four months of care for the youngest members of the group and beginning an entirely new chapter for them.
A Second Chance in the Scottish Wild
The successful release represents an enormous amount of work behind the scenes. Scottish SPCA Wildlife Operations Lead Sean Meechan said the team had worked around the clock, particularly while raising the three orphaned kits, with the ultimate aim of building their strength and preparing them for life in the wild.
Pine martens are one of Scotland’s distinctive native mammals. Once widespread across Britain, their numbers suffered a dramatic historical decline, although populations have subsequently recovered across parts of Scotland.
For Oak, Spruce, Aspen, Hazel, Cedar and Apple, however, the statistics can wait.
After months of feeding, climbing, growing and rehabilitation, six little pine martens are exactly where they belong — back in the wild.
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