Pine marten (Martes martes)

The pine marten is one of the most elusive animals in the forests of the Dolomites. Agile, silent, and perfectly adapted to woodland life, it is a discreet predator that lives largely out of sight.

Widespread across much of Europe, the pine marten is also found in the Alps, where it thrives in mature conifer forests rich in shelter and food resources.

It is mainly active at dusk and during the night, and is extremely hard to spot. Even those who spend a lot of time in the mountains rarely see one, yet its presence is more common than you might think.

In the areas around Cortina d’Ampezzo, many of which are managed by the Regole d’Ampezzo, the pine marten finds ideal conditions to live undisturbed. It belongs to the mustelid family, like the stoat.

Where the pine marten lives in the Dolomites

The pine marten mainly lives in forest environments, especially in mature, well-structured conifer woods. In many areas, such as the Dolomiti d’Ampezzo Natural Park, it finds ideal conditions to live undisturbed. It is generally found between 800 and 2,200 metres in altitude.

It prefers habitats rich in trees such as Norway spruce, silver fir, and larch, where it finds natural shelter in tree cavities, fallen logs, and undisturbed areas.

Unlike other mustelids, it is strongly tied to forest environments and rarely ventures far from continuous woodland. The presence of mature trees is essential for its survival.

It is an excellent climber and spends much of its time in the trees, moving with great agility in search of food or to escape predators.

Description

The pine marten has a slender, flexible body, measuring about 40–55 centimetres in length, with a bushy tail that can reach 25 centimetres. Its fur is typically dark brown and often glossy, with a distinctive yellowish-cream patch on the throat.

The ears are rounded and clearly visible, while the snout is short and pointed. Its large, dark eyes give it an alert and attentive appearance.

Its body is perfectly adapted to life in the trees: agile limbs, sharp claws, and excellent balance allow it to move easily even in complex environments.

Behaviour

The pine marten is an opportunistic predator with a very varied diet. It feeds mainly on small mammals such as rodents and squirrels, but also eats birds, insects, eggs, and fruit, especially during the summer.

It is a solitary and territorial animal. Each individual occupies a relatively large area, which it defends from others of the same sex.

Thanks to its agility, it can chase prey through the trees, a behaviour that sets it apart from many other terrestrial predators.

During the day it rests in hidden shelters such as tree cavities or abandoned nests, becoming active at dusk and during the night.

The pine marten’s call

The pine marten is generally a quiet animal, but in certain situations it can produce distinctive sounds. The most typical is a low, continuous growl, often associated with moments of tension or disturbance.

In this case, the animal was moving slowly through the branches while being attacked by blackbirds defending their nest. Throughout the scene, which lasted several minutes, the marten produced this sound almost constantly—a deep, persistent grumble.

In addition to the vocalisation, it is also possible to hear its movements among the branches, especially when it jumps from one branch to another, creating short, sharp sounds.

Recording of pine marten calls – Erik Hansson – Source: Xeno-canto

Signs of the pine marten’s presence

Recognising the presence of a pine marten is not easy, but there are some signs that can help.

Its tracks are similar to those of other mustelids, but larger and more clearly defined. Droppings are elongated and often contain hair or seeds, and are usually left in visible places such as logs or rocks.

You may also occasionally find remains of prey or traces of movement in the trees, signs of its activity among the branches.

Predators of the pine marten in the Dolomites

Despite its agility, the pine marten can still become prey. Its main predators include birds of prey such as the golden eagle and the eagle owl, which may attack especially young individuals.

On the ground, larger carnivores such as the wolf can pose a threat, although the marten’s tree-dwelling lifestyle offers an important escape route.

As with many alpine species, humans can also indirectly affect its survival through changes to forest habitats.

Protected species

The pine marten is not currently considered at risk in the Dolomites, but its presence is closely linked to the quality of the forest. The conservation of mature woodland and sustainable land management are essential to ensure the survival of this elusive species.

Is the pine marten dangerous to humans?

The pine marten is a shy animal and does not pose any danger to humans. It avoids direct contact and will usually flee as soon as it becomes aware of human presence.

Interesting facts

• It is one of the best climbers among European mammals.
• It can travel long distances through the trees without coming down to the ground.
• The pale throat patch is unique to each individual.
• It plays an important role in controlling small rodent populations.
• Anyone who lives in or often visits Cortina knows this well: the pine marten can sometimes cause problems for cars. It is not uncommon for it to crawl under the bonnet, especially at night, attracted by the warmth of the engine. In these cases, it may chew on cables and components, causing even costly damage.
  For this reason, there are specific products that can be sprayed inside the engine bay to keep it away without harming the animal.

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Scientific classification of the pine marten

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