SCOTLAND FOR
WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS
From the wide, open spaces of the Highlands and thick wooded riverbanks of Tayside and the Borders, to the rugged cliffs and tidal firths of the Atlantic and North Sea coasts and rocky shorelines of the Scottish isles, Scotland is home to a rich variety of birds and animals large and small.
t A young stag standing in front of a snow-capped mountain in the Highlands
Wild Deer
With over one million wild red deer in Scotland, deer stalking is a controversial yet popular pursuit. Rather than harming the deer, why not join a four-wheel-drive safari in the Cairngorms to shoot these magnificent stags with your camera instead? Boisterous stags can be spotted clashing antlers during the autumn rut, while, in spiring, flocks of hinds and their young are a common sight on open moorland in the Cairngorms and the glens of Argyll.
Protecting Scotland’s Native Species
Red squirrel priority woodlands like Glenmore Forest Park are a haven for these cute critters. Safe from the threat of rival greys, their numbers are on the rise. The Scottish wildcat, almost extinct in the wild, can be seen at the Highland Wildlife Park, where bison, lynx and wolves, once native to Scotland, roam in spacious open-air enclosures.
Whales, Seals and Dolphins
The waters around Scotland’s northern shores and northern and western isles are a refuge for many marine mammals. Take a boat trip from Aberdeen or Inverness to see bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoises, or explore the waters around Mull to spot minke whales, basking sharks and killer whales (orcas). Grey seals and common seals are a frequent sight in the sea lochs and sandbanks of the west coast, in the Firth of Forth and in the Firth of Tay.
Puffins and Seabirds
Seabirds can be spotted from just about anywhere on Scotland’s coastline. See the world’s largest colony of northern gannets on Bass Rock and, for a close encounter with puffins, head to the remote Handa Island Wildlife Reserve between May and July.
Rewilding Scotland
Re-establishing native species has had positive results, but it’s a controversial issue for some. White-tailed sea eagles and beavers have been successfully reintroduced, despite strong objections from farmers claiming eagles prey on lambs and beavers damage riverbanks. But there has been strident opposition to reintroducing lynx and even wolves. A final decision is yet to be reached on the matter.