Search launched for elusive pine martens in Shropshire
They had been considered extinct in England for the last half a century.
But now the hunt is on for pine martens in Shropshire's woods and forests.
Following the growth of the animal's population in Wales and a sighting in Herefordshire in December, county wildlife experts believe the creatures may also be living in the county.
Stuart Edmunds, from Shropshire Wildlife Trust, is leading the search and has installed motion detecting cameras in woods along the Shropshire-Wales border in an attempt to track them down.
So far the cameras have only picked up squirrels and badgers, but Mr Edmunds said he still believes the animals are out there.
"There is a strong likelihood that they still inhabit the forests of Shropshire undetected, despite being considered extinct for over 50 years," he said.
"Pine martens are secretive and hard to find so this is a search that could well take a few years.
"I have been running a project for two years to find evidence of the pine marten and desperately need people to report possible sightings."
The pine marten is the UK's second rarest mammal, and is a house cat-sized member of the stoat and weasel family.
Mr Edmunds said the animals are often mistaken for stoats, weasels and polecats, all of which are found in Shropshire.
"Martens are common in Scotland and evidence has been found that they exist in Wales and northern England, but finding one in the woodlands of Shropshire would be huge news in the world of conservation," he said. "They are recognisable by their dark chocolate brown fur, cream coloured throat patch and long bush tail."
A male pine marten was found dead by the side of a road in Newtown, Powys, last year, which was the first confirmed sighting of the animal in Wales since 1971.
For more information, or to report a possible sighting, follow the project on Twitter @PinemartensUK or email Mr Edmunds at stuartedmunds@rocketmail.com
