Pine marten makes its home in council HQ

An unexpected visitor has taken up residence in a council headquarters building – and now it looks like they’ll get their own purpose-built home.

A pine marten has moved into Kilmory, Argyll and Bute Council’s 19th-century headquarters near Lochgilphead.

The species was given full legal protection in 1988, meaning council staff were presented with an unusual headache.

A spokesperson said: “It’s fantastic to have a new resident at Kilmory, however we’re looking to help the pine marten return back to its natural habitat.

“Working with an ecologist, we are trying to understand the movements of the pine marten and in due course will ensure a nesting box is in position to try and encourage it back to a more suitable setting.”

A spokesperson for NatureScot said: “It’s wonderful to hear that the council are looking at ways to protect their new lodger!

“Pine martens were once found across Britain, but their numbers dropped dramatically due to persecution.

“They are considered to be Britain’s second rarest carnivore, but they have begun to recover. Scotland’s population is estimated at 3,700 adult pine martens.

“Pine martens are once again established across much of Scotland north of the central belt, with outlying populations in parts of the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway.”

Pine martens were given full legal protection in 1988.

It is an offence to intentionally or recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct access to a nest or den, or disturb the animal when it is occupying a nest or den for shelter or protection anywhere else.

If a pine marten den is in the roof space or other part of a house, however, it is not an offence to discourage a pine marten from using the den, or to block access to the den, provided the animal is not in the den at the time and does not have dependent young.

The council’s website describes Kilmory as ‘a rambling 19th century mansion house, which with its extensive grounds was created by ‘the highly individual, near eccentric’ Sir John Powlett Orde of Kilmory and North Uist, over a period of 50 years from 1828 until his death in 1878.