UK’s rarest native mammal is being nursed back to health after being rescued from a rubbish bin

One of the UK’s rarest native mammal species has been rescued from the rubbish bin.

The two-week-old pine marten, weighing just 105 grams, was delivered to a wildlife hospital on April 21.

The tiny kit was found in the trash can along with his two deceased siblings.

The pine marten, found in Powys, Wales, was brought to the center by a hedgehog keeper who later believed it might be a fox cub.

Natalie Gould, who works at the hospital, said a pine marten had not been admitted to the Vale Wildlife Hospital and Rehabilitation Center in Tewkesbury for 42 years.

He said: ‘This is our first pine marten, adult or baby, in almost 42 years so it’s very exciting.

‘He’s making good progress and is with one of our hand breeding team and will stay with him until he’s weaned, when he starts to become more independent, so we’re increasingly not interfering to make sure he’s not imprinted.’

Pine martens were once widespread in the United Kingdom, but have suffered major declines due to habitat loss and historical persecution due to their thick fur.

He was delivered to a wildlife hospital on April 21, weighing just 105 grams.

Tiny kit was found in the trash along with his two dead siblings

Here he is seen being bottle-fed milk by workers at the Vale Wildlife Hospital and Rehabilitation Center in Tewkesbury.

The wildlife center says such admissions indicate populations are slowly recovering

This is the first pine marten the wildlife hospital has had in 42 years

Pine martens are one of the UK’s rarest native mammals

The wildlife center says such admissions indicate that populations are slowly recovering.

Ms Gould said: ‘He is likely to stay with us if, by the end of August, we cannot find another rescue with kit of a similar age, then we will work with other organizations to find a suitable release site for him.’

A post on the hospital’s social media page reads: ‘One of the UK’s rarest native mammals; Part of the mustelid family (along with otters, weasels and badgers).

‘They are agile climbers, spend most of their time in trees and are known for their beautiful chocolate-brown fur and distinctive creamy “bib” on their chests.

‘Pine martens were once common in the UK but have suffered major declines due to habitat loss and persecution.

‘Fortunately, in some areas the population is slowly recovering and the acceptance of these kits is a sign of this.

‘Unless we are lucky enough to find another kit for this little one of a similar age (which is unlikely, but you never know), he will stay with us until the end of August.

‘At this point we will work with other agencies to find a safe and suitable evacuation location for him. A truly special introduction to the Vale Wildlife Hospital for all of us.’