Pine Marten (was - dentify please... Mink / Otter / Pine Marten?)

Muppet Man

Found this chap dead on the side road in South Co Cavan... lots of small rivers/lakes around, so I thought it might be an otter... I've seen Otters and Minks from distance (I'm living a very remote area), but nothing this close up. Then I thought it might also be a pine marten. My Running shoe is about 12 inches long... so maybe two or two and half feet long from tail to nose. He's been there about 3 weeks - I saw him there the last time I was on that road. I'm surprised a hawk or fox hasnt absconded with him.

Thanks,
Muppet Man.

doctor evil

Definitely not an otter, the tail is wrong.

tis a fine line

My guess is a pine marten. The teeth always strike me first when i see one, mink is darker in colour and much smaller.

Kess73

tis a fine line wrote: »

My guess is a pine marten. The teeth always strike me first when i see one, mink is darker in colour and much smaller.

First thing I thought when I saw the pic was a pine martin as well.

The tail is right, as well as the lighter colouration on the neck/underbody that is visible in the OP's pic. The snout is also screaming Pine Martin.

Ellis Dee

Yes, I believe it's a pine marten. They are pretty common here in Finland. Here's a picture of one that was killed on a street in the city of Tampere:

Muppet Man

Thanks all, based on the second pic above, I would be going with a pine marten too... I was actually most surprised by the length of the hind legs.

Cool - thanks for all the inputs.

Regards
Muppet Man

mecksimay

Study on woodland mammals currently being undertaken in Ireland - looking for sightings of red and grey squirrels and pine martens. Check out www.woodlandmammals.com

Muppet Man

Thanks - I filled in their survey....

Calochortus

Most certainly a pine marten!

swifts need our help!

Calochortus wrote: »

Most certainly a pine marten!

definitely