Posts Tagged ‘Mammal’
The December 2019 edition of Scottish Field is out now
The December 2019 edition of Scottish Field is now available. In this packed 208 pages, we get into the festive spirit as we do Christmas in style with a feast in the lavish surroundings of Duns Castle. Editor Richard Bath said: ‘Being a simple soul, as soon as I start to think about Christmas –…
Read MoreBe mindful of the hedgehogs this Bonfire Night
The British Hedgehog Preservation Society has issued a stark warning on the fate of the nation’s hedgehogs as Brits prepare for bonfire celebrations this weekend. Hedgehog numbers are already declining rapidly and the charity believes Bonfire Night could be the most treacherous time of all, with thousands of hedgehogs at risk of being burned if…
Read MoreThe velvet underground – the world of the mole
Moles have been a groundskeeper’s worst nightmare for centuries and mole catchers today are still perfecting the best way to dispense with these furry pests. Moles incur wrath – for a society obsessed with immaculately manicured lawns and golf courses, a rash of molehills appearing overnight causes a similar reaction to that of a troubled…
Read MoreEast-west divide in how Scots harbour seals survive
Harbour seals are thriving on the west coast of Scotland – but their numbers have declined around some parts of the eastern coastline. Scottish Natural Heritage has published the initial findings from a four-year programme of surveys that aim to cover the entire coastline of Scotland and provide the most up-to-date assessment of the harbour…
Read More10 alien invaders Scotland can do without
Scotland’s native wildlife is being attacked by ruthless foreign species that are hell-bent on world domination. A great many creatures that are part of the Scottish landscape are not, in fact, native species: the likes of the rabbit, pheasant and fallow deer were all introduced at some point in the past. But while these have…
Read More£1 million upgrade for safari park facilities
Blair Drummond Safari Park has announced a £1 million upgrade programme to include the modernisation of the sea lion enclosure – one of the Park’s most popular visitor attractions. The planned renovation project, which will commence at the end of this season, will include the installation of a state-of-the-art pump room and filtration system designed…
Read MoreHelp wanted to chart Scotland’s ocean wildlife
Scientists at Sea Watch Foundation are looking for Scottish marine mammal enthusiasts to help with their survey of whales, dolphins and porpoises. Every year for nine days in late July, Sea Watch Foundation look for wildlife enthusiasts and around the UK to support National Whale and Dolphin Watch, a citizen science project organised by the…
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 MoreHow our wildlife can reclaim the landscape
On a recent visit to London, I was blown away by the wildlife I spotted in parks and gardens. It was prolific – even more so, it felt, than at home in Perthshire. These urban green spaces have become vital for wildlife struggling to exist as boundaries between town and country become increasingly vague. It…
Read MoreWhen Scotland’s beavers made their return
I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would be able to walk less than a mile from my home in the Tay valley and see fresh signs of beaver activity on the river bank. A couple of fleeting glimpses of a broad brown beaver head disappearing beneath the Tay’s inky depths has been…
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