WILDLIFE
A brief look at some of the wildlife of Scotland, some info and where to best find them.
Scottish Red Deer (Fèidh Ruadh - Gaelic).
(Cervus Elaphus Scoticus - Latin).
The Scottish red deer is a subspecies of red deer, which is native to Great Britain. Like the red deer of Ireland, it migrated from continental Europe sometime in the Stone Age. sadly, the Scottish red deer is also farmed for human consumption. Red deer are still found by the thousands in upland forests and moorlands throughout Scotland.
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Red deer are Scotland’s largest surviving native wild land mammal. They have a body size a little smaller than a domestic donkey. Males are called stags and have antlers up to a metre long. These branch-like horns drop off in the spring and are grown again in the summer ready for the autumn rut, or breeding season. Stags live in small wandering groups, except during the rut when they become solitary and fight other stags for the control of a hind herd. Females are called hinds and they live in herds led by matriarchs. Each hind herd spends their whole lives in one area and know it very well. The hinds give birth to single calves which have white spots, during May and June.
Early summer is the best time to watch hinds and calves, as within the herd they are highly sociable. Red deer are more active during the morning and evening but can be seen more often during the long daylight hours of summer. The best time to see stags is during the autumn rut and they are more active in cold weather and rain, wallowing in mud, roaring and fighting other stags.
Red deer graze on grasses, sedges, heathers and woody species. They are found in woodland and on moorland right up to the mountain tops. Though widely distributed in Scotland, red deer aren't found in the Northern Isles, other outlying islands and much of the central belt and south-east. The most recent population estimates for Scotland suggest overall numbers of between 360,000-400,000 red deer.
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Golden Eagle (iolaire-bhuidhe - Gaelic).
(Aquila Chrysaetos - Latin).
The golden eagle is the top predator in the Scottish countryside; it is a massive bird of prey that mainly hunts rabbits and mountain hares but will also catch foxes, young deer and large birds like grouse. It can be seen soaring high in the sky in upland areas and remote glens in the north and west of Scotland, including Glen Nevis, Loch Lomond, Mull and the Inner Hebrides frm Skye down to Islay, Wester Ross (especially on the Coastal Path), the Cairngorms and the Findhorn Valley, and the Outer Hebrides in Harris.
Adult Golden Eagles are dark brown with a golden sheen on the back of the head and neck. For their first several years of life, young birds have neatly defined white patches at the base of the tail and in the wings.
Scotland is fortunate in having over 400 pairs of golden eagles and many experienced, skilled and enthusiastic fieldworkers dedicated to their study. There are marked differences in the abundance of territorial pairs across the Highlands and Islands of Scotland and in the species' conservation status across regions. Egg laying in Scotland occurs between early March and mid-April (Watson, 2010). February temperatures can have an impact on laying date; Watson (2010) showed that in the years when February was coldest, laying was around 10 days later than in the warmest years. In Scotland, golden eagles lay 1–3 eggs.
The Scottish Wildcat (Cat-Fiadhaich Albannach - Gaelic).
(Felis Silvestris - Latin).
The Scottish Wildcat, also known as the Highland Tiger is one of our most elusive carnivores and the only native member of the cat family still found in the wild in Britain. The wildcat is a European protected species.
The wildcat would have once been found throughout mainland Britain. Persecuted for centuries, its range steadily declined until by the First World War it was only found in the north west of Scotland. After this the range began to recover and the current range consists of areas in mainland Scotland north of the Highland Boundary Fault. Historically, Scottish wildcats lived across Britain but are now only found in the Scottish Highlands. Scottish Wildcat Action has identified five wildcat priority areas within the Highlands: Morvern, Strathpeffer,
Northern Strathspey, Angus Glens, and Strathbogie.
Estimates of wildcat numbers in Scotland vary greatly and our knowledge about current populations is patchy. This is because wildcats are elusive and because it’s not always easy to distinguish between wildcats and hybrid cats (see below). But trail-camera surveys conducted from 2010 to 2013 across the wildcat’s range in Scotland estimated that there are only 115 to 314 individuals. Wildcats live until around 7 years of age in the wild, and up to 15 years old in captivity.
Scottish wildcats prefer to live on the woodland edge, in the margins of mountains and moorlands, with rough grazing. They generally avoid high mountain areas, exposed coasts and intensively farmed lowlands. Like most cat species, wildcats are solitary except when breeding. They can be active by day and night, and their diet varies across the country. Rabbits are the favoured prey of wildcats, but when or where rabbit numbers are low, voles and mice are probably the next most important food source for wildcats in Scotland.
You can see Scottish Wildcats in captivity at The Highland Wildlife Park near Newtonmore.
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Pine Marten (Crannchu Na Coille - Gaelic). 'Little dog of the woods'.
(Martes Martes - Latin).
The Pine Marten is a cat-sized member of the weasel family. Dark brown fur covers its long body (65 to 70cm) except for a large, creamy-white patch at the throat.
Pine martens prefer native woodlands but can also live in conifer plantations and on rocky hillsides. They make breeding nests among rocks, in hollow trees, or in bird or squirrel nests. Up to five young are born in April. Pine martens also have a few ‘dens’ (temporary resting places) in their territory.
Once found across Britain, the pine marten was prone to persecution until relatively recently. Though it has recovered a little from a dramatic decline, the species is still rare. Scotland’s population is estimated at 3,700 adult pine martens. The species was given full legal protection in 1988.
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. Galloway has a small, self-sustaining reintroduced population. Pine martens aren’t confined to woodland, but each animal requires from 86 to 166 hectares of woodland within its territory. Animals may avoid open ground to reduce the risk of predation.
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Beaver (Bìobhair - Gaelic).
(Castor Fiber - Latin)
The first formal mammal reintroduction of the beaver took place in Knapdale Forest in the Heart of Argyll, only a two-hour drive from Glasgow.
On 24 November 2016, the Scottish Government made the landmark announcement that beavers are to remain in Scotland. Further to this, on 23rd February 2019, the Scottish Government announced that beavers were to be legally protected as a European Protected Species. This came into force on 1 May 2019.
Eurasian beavers are a native species to the UK, but they were hunted to extinction in the 16th Century. They are one of the world’s best natural engineers, with an incredible ability to create new wetlands, restore native woodland and improve conditions for a wide range of species including dragonflies, otters and fish. The return of beavers can also boost wildlife tourism. Knapdale’s beavers have attracted visitors from around the world, bringing social and economic benefits to the area.
Knapdale Forest is west of Lochgilphead in the Heart of Argyll. A Beaver Detective Trail leads past felled and regenerating trees, stripped branches with teeth marks and beaver canals. The beavers are most active at night so visit in the early morning and evening for the best chance to see them. It is recommend that you start your visit at Barnluasgan Information Centre.
Otter (Dòbhran - Gaelic). (Lutra Lutra - Latin)
The Otter was lost from most of England and Wales between the 1950's and the 1970's because of pesticide pollution of waterways. But it survived in Scotland’s cleanest bodies of water in the north and west.
Today, the species is flourishing across Scotland, and recovering well across the UK as waterways are cleaned up. The Scottish population is estimated to be around 8000 otters.
Otters are largely solitary, semi-aquatic mammals that get most of their food from lochs, rivers or the sea. The Scottish population has an unusually high proportion (perhaps 50% or more) of coastal-dwelling individuals, which feed almost exclusively in the sea and in sea lochs.
Coastal otters are sometimes called ‘sea otters’, but they are exactly the same species as the animals that live further inland. Mainly active during the day, coastal otters generally have much smaller home ranges than their riverine counterparts, because of the abundance of fish and crustacean prey in inshore waters. Otters must keep their fur free of salt using freshwater for it to remain effective as insulation. In freshwater, otters feed mainly on fish such as trout, salmon and eels, on spawning frogs and toads in spring, and occasionally on mammals and birds. An otter must eat around 1–1.5kg of prey daily.
Otters that live in freshwater habitats are largely nocturnal and occupy very large home ranges (around 32km for males and 20km for females). ‘Holts’ are used for shelter and breeding and may take the form of a burrow, natural hole, cave or other structure (including man-made ones). Otters may also rest or seek temporary shelter in above-ground structures known as ‘couches’. Britain’s otters may breed during any month of the year.
The otter belongs to the same family as the badger, pine marten, stoat and weasel, and American mink.
Scotland’s otter's are most at risk from road accidents, the single biggest source of otter mortality (excluding natural causes). Scottish Natural Heritage works closely with developers and road engineers to ensure that mitigation measures are put in place to avoid otter casualties on new roads. Such measures should also be retrofitted at existing known black spots where possible.
Reindeer (Fèidh Lochlannach - Gaelic).
(Rangifer Tarandus - Latin).
Reindeer (and Caribou) are members of the Deer family, Cervidae, and there are a number of different types or subspecies which are geographically spread across the Arctic and sub-Arctic areas of the northern hemisphere.
Scotland is home to Britain’s only free-ranging herd of reindeer. And they live in The Cairngorm National Park, one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland. Once completely native to Scotland, and found over a much larger range. However, they became extinct hundreds of years ago, likely due to a mixture of natural climate change and over hunting.
In modern times, the Cairngorm Mountain range is one of the only places in the UK that is a suitable habitat for reindeer to thrive. With its high mountain plateaus and cold winter weather, it’s perfect for the reindeer. The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd was first re-introduced to Scotland in 1952, by Mikel Utsi, a Swedish Sami man who came here on his honeymoon, and saw potential to bring reindeer back to Scotland. He saw many similarities between his home in Sweden and the Cairngorm Mountains and brought a small herd of reindeer over as an experiment. Over 60 years later, the herd has gone from strength to strength and now stands at over 150 animals.
Reindeer are the only species of deer in which both the males and the females grow antlers. The antlers that drop off and grow again every year are made of bone, and can grow as fast as 2 inches a week!. Reindeer have furry noses, not wet like other animals. This keeps them warm while they’re digging down through the snow to find food. They also have hair under their feet between their hooves, and right inside their ears!. A reindeer’s favourite food is Lichen. A symbiotic species of algae and fungi. Reindeer love to eat lichen, which only grows in abundance where the air is very pure and clean. Luckily, the Cairngorm National Park has loads of good clean air, so the lichen grows well for the reindeer to munch on!. Reindeer are perfectly adapted for the cold, in fact, they prefer it. Which is why living high up in the Cairngorm mountains is perfect for them. They have super thick fur coats with hollow hair to insulate them from the cold. In fact, they can have a wee snooze on the snow and not melt it. Big wide feet stop them from sinking in deep snow. And a clicking sound made by the feet of each animal, means they can find each other in a blizzard by sound, even if they can’t see each other!.
Wild Goats (Gobhar Fiadhaich - Gaelic).
(Capra Aegagrus - Latin).
Goats have been around for a long time. The first domesticated animals arrived around 5000 years ago with Neolithic farmers and were used, as the name would suggest, as farmyard animals. The wild goat is native to the Middle East.
Goat hair was much in demand for wig making in the 17th and 18th centuries. However, fashions changed and many goat herds were simply abandoned around this time. This also coincided with the migration of people from rural areas into the cities and the Highland clearances.
Nowadays we have what are termed feral goats. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 considers them to be a non-native species and they could not be said to be native – now, or in the future. That makes it an offence to release goats into the wild in Scotland. Some Scottish feral goat herds have been established for a long time and may be described as naturalised .
Feral goats are an invasive non-native species with the potential to cause serious damage to habitats.
Feral goat herds are held in affection by people and often have strong local cultural links. They are an example of the hardy types of livestock breeds in Scotland before the agricultural revolution. In many places they provide opportunities for wildlife watching. Goats are incredibly widely distributed but often quite difficult to spot because of the way their coats have bred back to dark colours and their predilection for grazing on often steep and broken craggy hill ground.
In Scotland, there is evidence feral goats are contributing to grazing pressures on at least 18 different protected nature conservation sites. The habitats most affected by goats are woodlands, willow and juniper scrub and vegetation on cliff ledges. Feral goat populations have the potential to increase in size rapidly if they are not controlled properly. They can also cause damage to young trees in forestry plantations. Wildlife managers must actively manage herds of feral goats to control numbers. Trying to estimate how many goats are out there is a tricky art. In 1993, the RSPB estimated that there were at least 45 herds scattered throughout the Highlands and Islands and southern uplands. Estimates vary from just under 3,000 to over 4,000 feral goats in Scotland. But scientists think the overall population has remained constant since the late 1960's.
Some of the best spots to see them are at the wild goat park in Galloway Forest Park, Rum National Nature Reserve (NNR), Creag Dubh near Newtonmore, South Lochness-side, Ardgour, Mull, Ardnamurchan, North Morar, Strathfarrar and Dundonell (near Ullapool), Kerrera off Oban, the Oa on Islay, Colonsay (where they have been seen climbing around within the low growing oaks), and also the east shores of Loch Lomond.
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Red Squirrel (Feòrag Ruadh - Gaelic).
(Sciurus Vulgaris - Latin).
Once the common squirrel across the UK, red squirrels have undergone a catastrophic population decline primarily due to competition for food and living space by the invasive non-native, American grey squirrel. Grey squirrels also carry Squirrelpox – a virus lethal to reds but not to greys.
There are estimated to be only 160,000 red squirrels remaining in the UK, 75% of which are in Scotland. Without concerted and effective action to protect them, the red squirrels that remain in Scotland could disappear within our lifetime.
The Scottish Wildlife Trust joined forces with Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission Scotland, RSPB Scotland, Scottish Land & Estates and the Red Squirrel Survival Trust in a co-ordinated attempt to stop the decline of red squirrels in Scotland and create the conditions for this mammal to thrive in the future.
Since 2009, this innovative partnership has established that it is possible to halt the decline of red squirrels over a wide area via strategically targeted and co-ordinated landscape-scale grey squirrel control. The initiative has enabled reds to re-establish in many areas.
The best places to see red squirrels in Scotland are Blackmuir Wood, Strathpeffer. Culbin Forest, Moray. Huntly Peregrine Centre, Aberdeen. Gight Wood, Aberdeenshire. Carnie Woods, Aberdeenshire. Glamis Castle, Angus. Blair Atholl Estate, Perthshire. Loch Ard Forest, and in Queen Elizabeth Forrest, Aberfoyle.
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Wallabies (Culicoides Impunctatus).
A wallaby is a small or mid-sized macropod native to Australia and New Guinea, with ... The name wallaby comes from Dharug walabi or waliba.
Loch Lomond has a population of unusual residents: feral wallabies. The troupe of marsupials was introduced to Inchconnachan in the 1940's, where they’ve roamed freely since.
The wallabies were brought to the island by Fiona Bryde Colquhoun, later known as Lady Arran. She was a quirky character with a love of exotic animals. Lady Arran once owned a backyard menagerie that included creatures like wallabies, llamas, and pigs. After World War II, she moved her wallabies to her holiday home on Inchconnachan. The eccentric aristocrat was also a celebrated power boater, and earned herself the nickname “the fastest granny on water.”
Unfortunately, the wallabies she loved aren’t viewed in the most favorable light. Many have suggested they should be culled, as the foreign animals—who are native to Australia—supposedly pose a threat to the island’s native capercaillie population. Tourists, however, seem to enjoy heading to Inchconnachan to catch a glimpse of its cute, though out-of-place, inhabitants.
Wallabies can also be seen occasionally around Inveraray, near where the old Wildlife Park used to be, and some people say that they have seen them on the east shore of Loch Lomond.
Grey Seal (Ròn Glas - Gaelic).
(Halichoerus Grypus - Latin)
The grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) is found only in the North Atlantic Ocean, the Baltic Sea and the Barents Sea. As one of the rarer seal species, its world population runs to just 350,000 to 400,000 individuals. About 40% of all grey seals live in UK waters – and about 90% of this number live off Scotland.
Grey seals travel large distances to forage and favour more exposed coasts and islands. Outside of breeding season they can be found hauled out on islands and coasts closest to the open sea. The breeding season for Scottish colonies occurs during the autumn. Breeding seasons can extend over 8 to 10 weeks, each individual female being present for only 2 to 3 weeks, during which she gives birth to a single pup which suckles for approximately 18 days.
Common Seal or Harbour Seal.
(Ròn Cumanta - Gaelic).
(Phoca Vitulina - Latin).
The Common Seal occurs in the North Atlantic and North Pacific. There are about 83,000 harbour seals in Europe. About 35% of this population is found in UK waters, and 83% of these in Scottish waters.
Common seals come ashore in sheltered waters typically on sandbanks and in estuaries but also in rocky areas. They give birth to their pups in June and July and moult in August. At other times of the year, common seals haul out on land regularly in a pattern that is often related to the tidal cycle.
Common Seal's can usually be found in Shetland, Orkney, the East Coast of the Outer Hebrides, most of the Inner Hebrides, the West Coast of Scotland from Skye to Arran, the Moray Firth and the Firth of Tay.
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White Tailed Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus Albicilla).
Also known as the sea-eagle, the white-tailed eagle is the largest bird of prey in the UK and the fourth largest eagle in the world. Its wingspan can be almost 2.5 metres in length, standing at a height of almost a metre.
Hunted to extinction in the 1800's, the sea-eagle was successfully reintroduced to the west coast of Scotland in the 1970's and 1990's and to the east coast in 2007. Breeding pairs are now found on the Isle of Skye, Rum, Mull and several sites on the west coast.
Other than by its size, the white-tailed eagle identifiable by a pale head, white, wedge-shaped tail and broad rectangular wings. Sea eagles are scavengers but will also hunt for fish, rabbits and seabirds.
They were a common sight across Scotland during the 19th century until persecution drove them to UK extinction. The last eagle was shot in 1918.
They are now a globally endangered species with only around 10,000 pairs in the world, a third of which live in Norway.
The first sea eagles were reintroduced to the Isle of Rum in 1975 and then Wester Ross between 1993 and 1998. These birds have established an increasing breeding population on the west coast of Scotland.
A third reintroduction of 85 of these magnificent birds to the east coast between 2007 and 2012 will help make the Scottish sea eagle population stronger and allow them to re-establish themselves across the country sooner.
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In 2013, for the first time in almost 200 years, sea eagles bred successfully in east Scotland.
Osprey (iolaire-uisge - Gaelic).
(Pandion Haliaetus - Latin).
Ospreys are no stranger to fame and attention – their pursuits have been followed closely by nestcams in several of the locations where it breeds including the Trust’s Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve in Perthshire, nests in Cumbria and the East Midlands in England, and also in Wales in the Glaslyn Valley, Island of Mull.
A migratory bird, it is present in Britain in summer. Ospreys eat fish, catching them in spectacular fashion as they dive towards lakes and lochs, stretch out their talons and scoop them out of the water with ease. Ospreys migrate to West Africa during winter; satellite tracking has shown them flying up to 430 km in just one day. It takes them about 20 flying days to complete the journey, but in autumn birds stop off to refuel at lakes and reservoirs.
Classified in the UK as an Amber List species under the Birds of Conservation Concern review and listed under CITES Appendix II. A rare breeding bird of parts of Scotland, Cumbria, the East Midlands and Wales, Ospreys can be spotted fishing at large bodies of water across the country during migration.
They can usually be seen from March – September, and usually life for between 10 - 15 years.
Capercaillie (Capall-Coille) Gaelic for ‘Horse of the forest’.
(Tetrao Urogallus - Latin).
The capercaillie is the largest member of the game bird family. It resides in the pinewoods of Scotland, but is occasionally found in mature oakwoods. Male capercaillie are mainly grey in colour and have reddish-brown wings with a white patch on the shoulder. The head, neck and breast are tinged with blue, and the eye is highlighted by a ring of red skin. Males also have a “beard,” most noticeable during courtship displays, and a long tail. Females have brown plumage with striations all over the body and a reddish-brown patch on the breast.
During breeding season, male capercaillie put on a flamboyant display known as a “lek”: with wings pointed down, tail flared and beard bristling, he emits a series of gurgles and wheezes interspersed with cork popping sounds. If there is more than one male nearby, fights can break out, sometimes causing serious injury and even death. Females lay between 5 and 12 eggs in a nest on the ground and look after the chicks, without the male, during the summer. These family units then join larger groups of birds in the autumn.
Classified in the UK as a red list species under the Birds of Conservation Concern review. Listed on the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP) as a priority species and is on the Scottish Biodiverstiy List. They are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981).
Found in the pinewoods of northern Scotland from January right through until December.
Red Grouse (Coileach-Fraoich - Gaelic). Cock of the heather.
(Lagopus Lagopus Scotica - Latin).
This is the most common grouse, a plump medium sized bird with a short tail, rich chestnut brown plumage and white-feathered legs. Males can be identified by a red eyebrow wattle which is very apparent when they call during the breeding season. The wattle is less obvious in other seasons, when both sexes look similar to each other. Often flies low along the contours with fast wing beats and glides with wings curved down.
Red grouse are the fastest-flying game birds in the UK, which makes hunting them a challenge – and is often cited as part of the appeal of this recreational activity. Grouse shooting is worth an estimated £30 million a year to Scotland’s economy.
Red grouse have a range of 16 calls, the most familiar of which sounds to people like, “Go-back, go-back, go-back!” followed by a chuckle. Muirburn is used to manage grouse moors, to provide grouse with a mosaic of young plants and shoots for food, and taller plants for shelter. This leads to the ‘patchwork’ effect seen on many upland hillsides in Scotland.
The Red Grouse shooting season is between 12 August – 10 December.
Ptarmigan (Tàrmachan - Gaelic). Means 'Croaker'.
(Lagopus Muta - Latin).
Ptarmigan are relatively scarce members of the grouse family and are confined to Scotland’s beautiful mountain tops, generally above 700 metres.
Walking steep, rocky, slippery ground and taking your shot under pressure of fatigue is the challenge in shooting these stunning birds. If you like a physical challenge and appreciate the beauty of Scotland’s high tops then ptarmigan shooting is for you.
The ptarmigan is only occasionally shot, and in small numbers, when there is considered to be a surplus. Living in such a hostile and fragile environment means this icon of Scottish field sports requires careful management. Usually shot walked-up by an individual or very small parties of Guns.
As with the Red Grouse, the hunting season of the Ptarmigan is 12 August – 10 December.
Red Kite (Clamhan Ruadh - Gaelic). (Milvus Mmilvus - Latin).
The red kite became extinct as a Scottish breeding bird species in the late nineteenth century, primarily due to human persecution by sporting estates, the taxidermy trade and egg collecting. The red kite was formerly an abundant and widely distributed species in the country prior to this time. Most of the last documented breeding attempts in Scotland were in the Highlands in the 1870-1880's and there is one later record of a pair nesting in Glen Garry (Lochaber) in 1917 (Baxter and Rintoul). Clues to their former presence live on in old place names, particularly with the old Scots name for the red kite (the Gled), in names such as Gladhouse (Lothian), Gledfield (Highland) and Gledsmuir (Borders).
In Scotland, most adult breeding red kites are sedentary, although they will make short distance movements in response to poor weather. On average about a quarter of the juvenile red kites from the north and central Scotland red kite populations disperse, largely in a south westerly direction, in their first winter. Scottish birds have been located in Ireland, England and on several occasions in Iberia. The winter roosts of red kites are monitored annually, and a number of sites hold around 100 birds.
The red kite has also become a popular tourist attraction, of value to local economies, with several public viewing sites now established by private landowners at Argaty, near Doune; Tollie, near Dingwall; Bellymack near Laurieston; and Easter Anguston, near Aberdeen. At these sites, it is possible to see good numbers of red kites coming to small amounts of food provisioned for the birds.
Scottish Salmon (Bradan - Gaelic). (Salmo Salar - Latin).
Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) are found in the temperate and arctic regions of the northern hemisphere. They occur in the rivers of the countries that border both sides of the North Atlantic Ocean, and the Baltic Sea.
As an anadromous species, Atlantic salmon live in freshwater as juveniles but migrate to sea as adults before returning up river to spawn.
Atlantic salmon return to their native river, and even the same stretch of the river from which they were born, with amazing accuracy. This means that many ‘populations’ of Atlantic salmon may exist within the same river.
Spawning usually occurs from November to December, but may extend from October to late February in some areas, particularly larger rivers. About 90 to 95% of all Atlantic salmon die after spawning has taken place. Those that survive may spawn again.
Female fish lay their eggs in gravel depressions known as ‘redds’. As a female releases her eggs, an adult male (or mature juvenile) immediately fertilises them. The female then covers the fertilised eggs with gravel. How long it takes for eggs to hatch (the incubation time) depends on water temperature. Eggs will usually hatch in early spring.
The young fish, which still have a yolk sac attached, are called ‘alevins’. The alevins remain in the redd for a few weeks and emerge from the gravel in April or May, having absorbed the yolk sac. Now about 3cm in length, the fish are known as ‘fry’.
Once the fish have developed markings on their sides, they’re known as ‘parr’. The parr will live in the river for two to three years depending on water temperature and food availability. On reaching about 12cm in length, the parr undergo a physiological transformation that lets them survive at sea.
The young fish, now called ‘smolts’, continue to change in appearance, becoming silver. These ‘post-smolts’ begin to leave rivers for the sea in late spring, with most fish gone by June.
Little is known about the migration pathways of post-smolts or returning adults. Some research has shown that post-smolts move in schools when heading to deep-sea feeding areas. Some of these fish feed in the Norwegian Sea and the waters off southwest Greenland.
These fish remain in the ocean from just over a year to three or four years. ‘Grilse’ are those fish that that spend only one year at sea (usually around the Faroe Islands and southern Norwegian Sea) before coming back to Scottish rivers. Grilse reach 2 to 3kg in weight. ‘Multi-sea-winter salmon’ – or simply ‘salmon’ – are those fish that remain at sea for two to three years before returning to Scotland. They’re larger than grilse as they’ve spent more time feeding in marine environments (usually off Greenland). Salmon that return to Scottish rivers from January to June are called ‘spring salmon’.
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Adder.
A snake with a distinctive black zig-zag pattern down its back. A female can be up to 750mm in length and usually has a brown colour; males are smaller, up to 600mm, and have a light grey colour.
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In Scotland, both males and females can be black in their more northern ranges, but on close inspection, in sunshine, the black zig-zag pattern is still visible against the blue black of the scales.
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In spring, both sexes emerge from their shared underground hibernation sites. They are thin and dull in colour. Before starting the breeding season they usually shed (slough) their old skin. Sometimes males can be seen sparring with each other to compete to mate with a female. During the day adders need to warm themselves before becoming active and will curl up and sun themselves, for example in a warm period after a rain shower. Adders see movement, feel vibration and have a very good sense of smell (using their tongue to taste the air) so they have to be approached carefully. The female adder carries her developing eggs inside her. The hatching young are about 75 mm long and are born in September. Adults and young hibernate together underground in late September.
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Adders are found in sheltered sunny areas on woodland edges, in upland areas and on dry moorland and are present throughout suitable habitat in Scotland.
Adders are protected and should not be harmed. They can eat up to nine small rodents in a year, as well as an occasional common lizard. Although adders are poisonous snakes they are not dangerous except to small children and the infirm.
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Re-wilding Scotland?.
This is a controversial movement that wishes to bring back some of Scotland's lost wildlife and re-introduce these species back into the wilderness areas of the Highlands. Species they would like to see return to Scotland are the Grey Wolf, the European Lynx, and some even wish to reintroduce brown or grizzly bears back into the Highlands.
Personally, as a Hill Walker and Hiker, and knowing that much of Scotland relies on the income from Tourism, I feel that animals such as wolves and bears should never be reintroduced as this would only result in conflict between those wild animals and the people who live in those areas, and because the tourism would suffer too. You won't get people wishing to hike out in the wilds, especially with their families, if they might be in danger from wolves and bears.
However, I feel it might be possible to reintroduce a more elusive and secretive animal, something such as the European Lynx as this, as it does in other parts of the world, is more likely to run at the sight of a human, but would help control the population of deer in the wild in a more natural way without interfering with, or competing for territory with the indigenous Scottish Wildcat.
Grey Wolf ( Madadh-Allaidh - Gaelic).
(Canis lupus - Latin).
Official records indicate that the last Scottish wolf was killed by Sir Ewen Cameron in 1680 in Killiecrankie (Perthshire), but there are reports that wolves survived in Scotland up until the 18th century, and a tale even exists of one being seen as late as 1888.
The Scottish government estimates that there are now approximately 400,000 red deer and 350,000 roe deer living in Scotland. Every year, a cull has to be held to reduce their numbers. But some, such as Englishman and Scottish resident Paul Lister, believe that reintroducing wolves to the Highlands could be the answer to the problem—and that it is possible to ensure that people who don’t want to cross paths with wolves won’t.
While people tend to readily see the benefits of more trees, forests and natural landscapes, fencing off the area has been met with some resistance by hikers who cite Scotland’s right-to-roam laws, enacted in 2003, that state that anyone can access any land, regardless if it is privately owned or not.
Livestock farmers have their own objections. They worry that escaped wolves will attack and kill their lambs and sheep. Others argue that the job of reintroducing large predators should only be done by the Scottish Natural Heritage, the government organisation responsible for wildlife and habitats—not a private landowner with possible commercial interests.
In response to critics, Lister admits that he does intend to charge tourists to see his wolf-populated wilderness reserve. But the increased traffic, he insists, would provide a strong boost to local village economies. Currently, the region only gets about 1,000 hikers and ramblers per year. If his plan comes to fruition, he believes that more than 10 times that number of people would visit. Wolf-related tourism, such as what Yellowstone National Park experiences, could bring millions of dollars to the remote and rural upland regions of the Scottish Highlands.
Any proposal for wolf reintroduction to Scotland would have to be approved by the Scottish Natural Heritage. The signs are good: agriculture in Scotland, particularly sheep farming, has changed. In 2005, subsidies based on production—where farmers and crofters received payment per head of cattle or sheep—were replaced by Single Farm Payments. That means that farms and crofts are now given a subsidy regardless of whether livestock are grazed or crops are grown. This revision, coupled with incentives such as the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme, which provides grants for restoring native woodlands, could result in sheep being replaced by forests in the future, thus increasing suitable habitat for both predators and their prey.
Lister recognizes that in 21st-century Scotland, reintroducing wolves on a broad scale would not be feasible. But since wolves are in every country in Europe except for Great Britain, he feels it’s a duty to bring them back. A fenced reserve could be the only opportunity to return large predators here—and ecologically restore a large part of the Scottish Highlands while promoting tourism.
While Lister’s inspirational wolf patch would only be a tiny fraction of the size of the sprawling Yellowstone, it, too, could be the scene for a story of healing and restoration that is admired worldwide.
You can see wolves at The Highland Wildlife Park.
Wild Boar (Torc Fiadhaich).
(Sus Scrofa - Latin).
Wild boar are part of the pig family. They probably became extinct in the UK around the 13th Century due to over-hunting and habitat loss, but there have been several attempts to re-introduction the species since then.
Since the 1970s, they have only existed in around 100 farms and animal parks, 30 of which are in Scotland. HORDES of escaped wild boar have been killing and eating livestock across Scotland, leading to calls for a cull.
Glenloy Wildlife based near Fort William has been seeing signs of wild boar and suspected that they may be living wild in the Glen. If you come across these in the wild extreme caution is recommended.
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European Lynx (Lioncs - Gaelic).
(Lynx Lynx - Latin).
Once resident in Scotland, the lynx is thought to have become extinct in the UK during the medieval period around 1,300 years ago. They have short bodies, long legs and large feet, as well as sharp, hooked claws, distinctive triangular ears with black tufts at the tip, and a short black-tipped tail. They are spotted cats, with long light-coloured fur which gets shorter and thinner in the summer.
The Trust believes that there is both a moral and ecological case for reintroducing lynx to Scotland
Medium-sized cats, they are the third largest predator in Europe after the brown bear and the wolf. Solitary and elusive, they typically hunt at night and stealthily avoids humans, so they are rarely seen. These large predatory cats will normally feed on deer, mountain hares and other small mammals.
Currently extinct in the UK, but can be found in the temperate and boreal forests of Central, Northern and Eastern Europe, to Siberia and Central Asia. They have very good eyesight and can spot a mouse up to 250 feet (75 metres) away. They also have an excellent sense of hearing. Some scientists believe that their ear tufts act like whiskers and that they use these to detect movements close by.
Captive members of this species can be seen at the Highland Wildlife Park.
