One of the UK’s rarest native mammals is now being cared for at a wildlife rescue centre after being found abandoned in a rubbish bin.
The tiny animal, later identified as a pine marten kit, weighed only 105 grams when she was discovered. She was found alongside two siblings who had sadly already died.
The kit was taken to Vale Wildlife Hospital & Rehabilitation Centre, where staff first thought she might be a fox cub. But after a closer look, they realized she was actually a pine marten — a species that is rarely seen in the UK.
For the rescue centre, the moment was especially unusual. In its 42 years of operation, Vale Wildlife Hospital had never admitted a pine marten before.
Natalie Gould from the hospital described the young animal as adorable, but also very loud. The kit is believed to be around two weeks old and is still far too young to survive without care.
Specialist carers are now hand-rearing her, making sure she receives the warmth, food and attention she needs to grow stronger. As she develops, staff will slowly reduce human contact so she has the best possible chance of eventually returning to the wild.
Pine martens are one of Britain’s rarest native mammals. They are known for their bushy tails, chocolate-brown fur and pale cream-colored bibs. These shy, tree-climbing animals usually live in woodland areas and are rarely seen by people.
Although pine martens were once widespread across the UK, their numbers dropped sharply because of hunting and habitat loss. In recent years, conservation efforts have helped them begin to recover in some areas.
Wildlife experts hope cases like this may be a sign that pine martens are slowly returning to parts of the UK. For now, the tiny kit is safe, growing stronger and receiving the care she needs after such a heartbreaking start.