Posts Tagged ‘Mammals’
The buzzard is a success story – but it is too successful?
Buzzards are a conservation success story. The raptors’ numbers are so buoyant that concerns over their impact on other wildlife have been raised and measures as drastic as a cull are being suggested. It seemed ironic that, shortly after I had despatched a badly injured buzzard filled with shot pellets, that the next visitor to…
Read MoreTen fantastic places to visit in… Falkirk and West Lothian
Head to Falkirk and West Lothian, and you’ll find a fantastic mix of things to see and do. If you’re interested in travel by rail or water, it’s the perfect area to visit. And there’s plenty of animals to see too! Here’s 10 places we recommend. THE FALKIRK WHEEL The 35m high Falkirk Wheel is one…
Read MoreGoing underground with Scotland’s stoats and weasels
With their fearsome reputation as bloodthirsty hunters, weasels and stoats demand respect from gamekeepers and farmers alike. For most of us, stoats and weasels are only occasionally glimpsed rushing across a road and more usually viewed as casualties lying on the verge. These quite extraordinarily lithe mustelids seem elastic, with sinewy little bodies perfectly suited…
Read MoreKiller instinct can make the raven hard to love
Intelligent, loyal and fun-loving, the raven also has a dark, dangerous and deadly side that has won it few friends. Watch a pair of ravens on a windy day, sky diving with all the majesty and skill of the Red Arrows, and it is hard not to fall totally under their spell. In sunlight, the…
Read MoreScottish wildcats on the last of their nine lives
With wildcat numbers dwindling, is there hope for Scotland’s feisty feline? It was only as recently at 1988 that wildcats received the full protection of the law. Before that they were snared, trapped, shot, stuffed and poisoned (a wildcat sporran lurks in our cupboard, a relic from a Victorian relative), and it took a long…
Read MoreThe Scottish newt is a natural born survivor
Around for a million years, adapted to land and sea, and with remarkable regenerative powers, the newt is a creature like no other. I have long been fascinated by newts. If they survive the attentions of their many predators, they may be fairly longlived. They also have an extraordinary ability to regenerate various parts of…
Read MoreIs the badger really public enemy number one?
Attacked on all sides, and the victim of government-sponsored culls as well as unimaginable brutality at the hands of criminal gangs, the badger faces a difficult future. It’s a sunny afternoon in a bramble thicket deep in Perthshire woodland. A robin appears and cocks his head in our direction, turning over the newly disturbed leaf…
Read MoreNew plans to help save the Scottish Wildcat
Plans to give the Scottish wildcat a sustainable future are now underway. They come after the release of a report by members of The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s Cat Specialist Group. The report, published today, reviews all evidence collected and concludes there is no longer a viable wildcat population living wild in…
Read MoreTaxidermist George is keeping the memory of animals alive
Edinburgh-born taxidermist George Jamieson’s fascination with his craft started at a young age. A creatively inclined child, Jamieson began collecting stuffed birds to paint and sketch. As a reward for passing his 11+ exams, he was given a taxidermied golden eagle. It wasn’t long before Jamieson decided to try it for himself and armed only…
Read MoreFinding the positives in a poor grouse season
Scotland’s grouse sector has taken a hit this year due to the poor weather – but that has not dampened enthusiasm for private investment in vital conservation work. The financial impact of the poor season, ending today, 10 December, is very significant – due to widespread cancellations of shooting programmes and reduced trade with local…
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