Are red squirrel numbers really being boosted by the resurgence of the pine marten?

On 7th March 2018, BBC News published a video on its website about how the pine marten has emerged as an unlikely ally for the beleaguered native red squirrel in its battle with the grey squirrel. The pine marten is a predator of the reds, but in areas where it thrives, the number of grey squirrels appears to be reducing.

This is an interesting finding and shows how careful wildlife management, including the reintroduction of some native species to an area,  can help to strengthen numbers of other native species that might be struggling, even when those re-introduced species are their natural predators.

Click here to watch the video in full (opens in a new window)