It's easy to forget that some species used to be a familiar part of the landscape.
In parts of England, the pine marten was one of those animals, but it quietly disappeared over the past century due to habitat loss and hunting.
Now, according to BBC News, conservationists are working to bring them back. Thanks to reintroduction efforts, there are signs it's starting to work.
Last autumn, 13 adult pine martens were relocated from the Scottish Highlands to Grizedale Forest and the nearby Rusland Valley in Cumbria.
Since then, researchers have confirmed — with the help of trail cameras and a little peanut butter — that the animals are exploring and adapting to their new home.
Pine martens were once common in England, but habitat loss and hunting nearly wiped them out. This latest reintroduction signifies the uptick in helping species return to areas where they historically thrived.
Similar projects in the Forest of Dean and parts of Wales have already seen promising results, with reintroduced populations beginning to grow on their own.
To track how the pine martens are doing, conservationists use trail cameras and baited climbing poles that capture images of the animals' unique chest markings. These tools allow experts to monitor the martens without disturbing them.
Trail cameras, also called "camera traps," are becoming a go-to method for tracking species recovery, and they were also key in documenting pine martens returning to Wiltshire after a long absence.
As natural predators of grey squirrels, pine martens can help reduce pressure on native red squirrels and protect woodland health.
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Across the globe, more and more groups and organizations are focused on the reintroduction of species in different ways.
In Kent, a government-backed project is constructing wildlife bridges to support the movement of European bison, improving coexistence between humans and wildlife.
Meanwhile, in North China, trail cameras provided footage of rare leopards, demonstrating that conservation efforts are working.
All in all, smart community-backed wildlife management can help build a cleaner, safer future for everyone.
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