The late 20th century is proving to be a time of cautious optimism for people interested in Britain's scarcer predatory mammals. The Otter, Lutra lutra, is creepingback along our waterways following its presticide-induced decline in the 1960s. Much less heralded, yet arguably more exciting, is the recovery of three outlaws from 19th-century sporting Britain: the Pine Marten, Martes martes, Wildcat, Felis silvestris, and Polecat, Mustela putorius.