|
|
Post by NellyDee on Sept 16, 2015 19:33:18 GMT
I was watching a very young pine marten eating the food I had put out, when to my horror I saw a large feral cat, ready to pounce, My movement behind the window made the pine marten run off, chased by the cat. I don't know what the outcome was but am assuming the pine marten managed to reach a tree and scoot up it. I thought cats were just bird and mince catchers, seems they go for bigger things too.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tringa on Sept 17, 2015 7:56:11 GMT
I've only seen two meetings between pine martens and cats.
In one the marten turned and ran pursued by the cat. In the other, the pine marten held its ground better - arching its back and facing the cat. The pine marten continued to eat for a short while but when it moved away the cat chased it.
I don't know if a cat would kill young martens but they, the martens, will be able to get through small spaces more easily than a cat. I was a bit surprised to see these two reactions. I thought the dangers of injury to both cat and marten were not worth the risk of a fight.
Dave
|
|
|
|
Post by NellyDee on Sept 17, 2015 9:07:51 GMT
I know it is nature but I am a bit concerned re this particular feral cat, caught it a number of times on trail camera, lurking around where the pine martens and badger feed mainly and now it seems near the house. The young pine martens are just learning and don't seem to be aware of dangers around them.
I laughed at the time, when young pine marten came face to face with red squirrel, both jumped, red ran off and young pine marten moved forward to watch the red squirrel then returned to feeding from bowl on veranda. I don't think either had encountered such before. The red squirrel, also young, to my surprise returned to the veranda, determined to get the nuts also, this time the pine marten did chase the squirrel off, but it was more 'this is mine buss off' and returned to feeding.
|
|
