TO reply to PR Whitfield re ‘pine martens are another goshawk error’ (A&T Letters 2nd Feb). The gamekeepers of the 19th century wiped out the pine marten in order that ‘the lord’ could enjoy shooting pheasants. A pine marten in the New Forest (picture: Martin Noble)The marten eats squirrels, so would have plenty of food in the New Forest, the red squirrel does not live here, so only the grey. The marten is no more a voracious killer than the other thorn of old in the keeper’s side, the weasel and stoat, and they were hammered through time on game preserves. Pine martens, like the fox, never kill for fun, they kill as many birds or mammals as they can in order to cache for a later time.

Source: The Times February 10, 2024 09:25 UTC