I saw a Pine Marten in Bedfordshire. Didn't I?

[toosmooth]

So I'm driving home last night at 7, up past Ivinghoe Beacon in the Eastern end of the Chilterns, at the highest point in the road for miles around.

This spot is more usually Badger territory, but this sighting wasn't a Badger.

Into the glare of the headlamps runs a really long, really much bigger than a weasel animal - brown and buff and completely and utterly like my mental image of a Pine Marten.

It turns around as I slow down, I'm nearly at a stop at this point, and it scurries back into the bushes that line the road.

Cat sized, but longer, brown and buff and with a light coloured face - I still think it was a Pine Marten, but I'm in the Chilterns, which I'm led to believe from a quick skim through online resources is geographically unlikely.

Anyone got any proof that Pine Martens live around here? or did I see a Superweasel, dyed Badger, or stretched cat?!

Paul B

[hank]

How about an escaped Ferret ?

[GuyF]

Any chance it was a Polecat, they match the description quite well and they're probably in that area, I think they've expanded their range recently. If it was a Polecat then you're very lucky, few people get to see them.
Guy

[DavyG]

It's more likely that you spotted a mink.

I saw one in Berkshire last weekend, I've been visiting that particular site for over 30 years and that's the first time I've seen a mink there.

Dave

[willing to learn]

Seen a few Red and white Badgers, but they still look like badgers.
Regards
Colin

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by GuyF

Any chance it was a Polecat, they match the description quite well and they're probably in that area, I think they've expanded their range recently. If it was a Polecat then you're very lucky, few people get to see them.
Guy

That was my immediate thought as well. If it was, that is a great sighting!

Regards, Chris

[Dogghound]

Yes i would put my money on Polecat or Mink. Both increasing in range and population throughout the UK more so in the case of the mink.

[Bub-les]

Sounds very like a polecat to me. That's one animal I see 3 or 4 times a year.
Barbara

[eeyore]

i'd say it was a mink - tho there are otters not that far away

by the way ivinghoe beacon is in buckinghamshire - but only just

[dog stone]

Mink more often than not, stick close to rivers and streams, as you say it was at a high point in the area, then it sounds like it could be a polecat who are more land orientated.