A PROJECT looking for evidence of pine martens on the North York Moors may have captured a picture of the elusive mammal for the first time.

The pine marten has never been officially recorded alive in North Yorkshire, although there are regular rumours of sightings. A dead pine marten was discovered by a roadside in 1993.

Pine martens resemble ferrets or stoats, but are significantly larger, with adults growing more than two feet in length, and they sport a bushy tail.

If the image, captured by the wildlife organisation NatureSpy, is a pine marten, it would confirm what has long been suspected – that a population of the second-rarest carnivore mammal in the UK calls the North York Moors home.

It would be only the second ever picture of a wild pine marten in the whole of England – the last was taken in Staffordshire nearly ten years ago.

The picture was taken using special wildlife camera traps which work day and night and are triggered when an animal crosses their path.

Cameras have been up in the Moors in a project run by NatureSpy, with assistance and permission from the Forestry Commission, looking specifically for pine marten.

However, experts are divided on the image. Many believe that it is a pine marten, while others want to see a more convincing picture before confirming its presence.

“It’s an interesting image” said NatureSpy wildlife biologist, James McConnell.

“Features such as the long straight tail, the slight hump towards the rear and the size of the animal point to it being a pine marten. However, a clearer picture would be brilliant – and that’s what we’re still aiming to get.

"Once we confirm this animal’s presence without doubt, we can then apply a more scientific approach and estimate numbers.”

As a result, the project is continuing – and NatureSpy is looking for the public's help help. A crowd funding campaign has been set up to get more cameras in the forest, and give people a chance to be part of the quest for the pine marten in Yorkshire. Almost £500 has been raised for the project so far.

To find out more about the project visit nature-spy.co.uk.