A Few bits on Scottish Environmental Conservation

[ThistleDown]

Jock, "Dubious human activities connected to badgers"....this sound intriguing and , well....probably disgusting. Badger fights?

I'm intrigue'd to know that you saw all that on one single drive back to your home, Jock. So the truth about some species, at least is somewhere between the alarm bells sounding ultimate destruction, and those who shrug and don't care. Actually I would be surprised if Osprey were endangered. They're relatively hardy, can hunt over all sorts of open water and are pretty tolerant of human presence. After all, I see them all the time on Puget Sound, and watched one take a fish out of the sound not 50 feet from my kayak, last summer. I would assume the Scottish osprey are much the same.

Introducing roe and red deer. Yeah, what on earth is the point? In fact, how can you "re-introduce" them, when they're all over the place? (or so I understand).

Seriously, you have boar around your land? I wonder if the primary question about re-introducing boar is further south, rather than the highlands. Here in California the wild pig population is positively booming. Hog/Boar, and there's lots of interbreeding between the native wild boar, introduced (and aggressive European boar) and escaped pigs .... is the #2 hunted species, right behind white-tailed deer. Despite 3,000 + boar being taken in California last year, the population is doing just fine, probably something like 30,000+. Hunting is NOT...NOT the enemy of all species!

Just curious, Jock, have you ever seen a wildcat?

You saw a pine martin? I'm flabbergasted. We have them in the Sierra Nevada, different sub-species but basically a very similar animal and while they are not "rare" they are very secretive and in 30 years of backpacking up in the mountains, I've seen three.

I think this *does it*. I am going for an extended hike in the Cairgorms when I get over there. If the place is crawling with animals like this, I want to SEE them.

The popularity of badger-baiting was a primary reason for the current ban on badger hunting, but where there is a desire for this sort of thing ways will be found. Years ago badgers were found to carry bovine TB and many were gassed, particularly in England, but Jock has far greater knowledge on that subject than I have. In the last fifty years badger meat has reduced in popularity until it is now almost negligible, but the ban may have much to do with that.

Keeping eyes open and sound down. Wildlife in the Highlands is wonderful and diverse, but not always to be seen. I have never, for example, seen an adder. Not that I want to, mind you, and perhaps not having the wish to has stopped me from looking.

I live half the year not too far from Vancouver, Alan, and we have many black bears here. I understand that 27 were trapped in my community in 2005 and transported over the mountain. They were all tagged and in 2008 four of the 18 transported that year wore 05 tags. Racoons and skunks are very common in urban areas and coyotes walk the centre lines of residential streets so they don't get hit by cars ;) The several lynx I have seen have been in the upper Rockies and not at the coast.

Pine martens are a regular sight in the central Highlands. I've not seen wild boar locally, but I understand they are often seen over in Argyll and will, as you pointed out, breed with domestic pigs with great success. That's the same issue we have with the wildcat/feral cat/domestic cat populations throughout the Highlands.

One of the arguments put forth by those in favour of re-introducing wolves has more to do with urbanites' ideas of deer-stalking and so-called blood sports than with balancing nature. Wolves as a pack will hunt the animal least likely to need great energy expense. That will not be the mature red deer. By the way, Scotland presently has a red deer population of something like 350,000; many die for want of forage in the harshest of winters but deer management programs are generally good and hind meat is readily available as venison in butcher shops and restaurants.

Rex

[Jock Scot]

Wildcats are about and when I used to wander the hills, up to a year ago, I might see one every five years or so. I used to have a wild cat sporran, but I gave it to one of my sons as somehow I am not keen on fur sporrans these days. OK, we see eagles as a matter of course and you would not expect to see one near London, but yes what I saw today would not be unusual PROVIDED you know what you are looking for. On the other hand we would not ever hear the nightingale sing this far north.

We had a pine martin on the bird table outside the dining room window tonight whilst we were eating supper.Only the thickness of glass between us, not unusual, but not common to see one that close, either.

Oh yes, wild boar! A picture of two youngsters we trapped(and released) to prove a point. It was a very worthwhile exercise as there was a serious bet to win!

[BoldHighlander]

I live half the year not too far from Vancouver, Alan, and we have many black bears here. I understand that 27 were trapped in my community in 2005 and transported over the mountain. They were all tagged and in 2008 four of the 18 transported that year wore 05 tags. Racoons and skunks are very common in urban areas and coyotes walk the centre lines of residential streets so they don't get hit by cars ;)

Living just south of you Rex in a city (Bellingham) with green space every where (& urban sprawl invading the wildlife) we see a lot of raccoons, skunks & opossums about. Sometimes a lone coyote (& on rare occasion a pack of 4 or more). Deer have become a real road hazard in certain areas in the wee hours. Just 2 days ago as my wife & pulled into the driveway we saw two yearlings feeding next door. They then went trotting down the center of the road past the Technical College (this was in the late afternoon! ).

When I was working security up near the college (WWU), I use to regularly see a doe & her two fawns eating apples on the ground (this in the middle of "party central"). One night I came around a corner & almost got ran over by a 6-point buck!!
Another night I saw what looked like a German Shepherd crossing the park, coming towards me. I then spotted his rather bushy tail (a coyote), so I whistled at him, causing him to stop just about 20 yards from me. We regarded each other & then he turned & headed back up the road to the woods.

After hound hunting was banned (& the population exploded), big cats (cougars) have come into the fringes of town on occasion. At one point there was a "resident" cat on the forested hill behind the college (this is otherwise an urban area). Out at Lake Padden (a popular park) on the fringes of town, a big cat a few years ago confronted two women on the backside of the lake. It was touch & go for a few minutes as one woman kept him at bay with her walking staff(!!). I haven't heard of a sighting around here in at least two years though.

Bears are rarely seen near town, but back in the 80's (& before urban sprawl), I had a friend out hunting deer near the afore mentioned Lake Padden, when a predatory black bear chased him up a tree & climbed up after him. Fortunately for my friend he still had his rifle & shot and killed the bear.

Sometimes we see critters around here that we don't expect, example a dead beaver on I-5 near the hospital. That was during some flooding & I suspect he had attempted to cross the highway where the water had overflowed & wasn't quick enough.

Another time we saw a porcupine near our house on the "truck route" (a heavily wooded road w/creek nearby leading from the harbor to I-5).

Back in the early 90's, when my wife was attending college here, she had a face to face with a moose that had wandered into town. Being from Houston (Texas) she had never seen one in person & it liked to have scared her half to death!

Raptors (bald eagles, hawks, & owls) are a common sight....ospreys less so.

On occasion when driving past the bay I'll see a sea lion's head pop out of the water

One of things I love about this area, not just the beautiful scenery, but all the wildlife too

[Alan H]

Three hundred fifty thousand deer?????? In Scotland?

OMG, that's not wildlife, that's a bloody traffic jam. No, that's an environmental and faunal nightmare. That's *ridiculous* overpopulation. Well, it's because they have no predators, but humans. I had no idea.

I hope that venison is readily available in the butcher shops, there's more deer in Scotland than cattle for God's sake. The Government should hand out deer stalking permits for free. Sheesh.

The problem with that many deer is that they'll eat **Everything** which is what you all are getting at with deer fencing and so on. They will clean out the low scrub in the forests, as well. Oh that is a monstrous problem, not just for the gardeners but for all the rest of the environment as well.

Pine Marten are a common sight? I will briefly tell you a story. My only close-up encounter with a Marten was about 8-9 years ago. Joan and I were backpacking, and had camped at a lake about 3 miles into the Emigrant Wilderness. This valley is about 12 miles from the closest highway, but the lake gets a lot of foot traffic, day hikers and a LOT of horse packers. We'd gotten a late start so we stopped there. That evening, Joan was sitting on a rock looking over the lake, quietly munching on a plastic bag of nuts and granola. She was hardly moving. I was about 15 feet behind her reading a book.'

A Pine Marten came up, and sniffed at her. I looked up and saw him when he was about ten feet away from Joan. She spotted him a moment later. We both sat absolutely still. The Marten slowly came up until he sniffed at the plastic bag. Joan could have easily reached out and touched him, he was only 18 inches away.

Now that's a bit TOO close, so she made a little move and the Marten bolted for cover. But I will never forget seeing that animal, what a beautiful, amazing little creature.

And you see them "regularly"?????

OK, I am coming to Scotland and going hiking in the Central Highlands. Midges be damned.

[Alan H]

The popularity of badger-baiting was a primary reason for the current ban on badger hunting, but where there is a desire for this sort of thing ways will be found. Years ago badgers were found to carry bovine TB and many were gassed, particularly in England, but Jock has far greater knowledge on that subject than I have. In the last fifty years badger meat has reduced in popularity until it is now almost negligible, but the ban may have much to do with that.

People eat badger meat??? I had no idea that badgers carried bovine TB.

Keeping eyes open and sound down. Wildlife in the Highlands is wonderful and diverse, but not always to be seen. I have never, for example, seen an adder. Not that I want to, mind you, and perhaps not having the wish to has stopped me from looking.

Always. There's no need to go tromping around raising a great noise all the time. The best sightings usually happen when you're alert and quiet, as you say. A quiet stroll, a little foray a few yards off the main path and a quiet half-hour rest stop on an exposed rock, that's when you usually see the best things. Regarding adders, I've seen plenty of rattlesnakes in my day, darned near stepped on one on a trail a few years ago, just after it had killed a gopher. It hadn't started eating it yet. I saw the gopher and stepped over it. Two seconds later I saw the head of the snake and covered the next ten yards REALLY fast! . The snake never rattled at me.

I live half the year not too far from Vancouver, Alan, and we have many black bears here. I understand that 27 were trapped in my community in 2005 and transported over the mountain. They were all tagged and in 2008 four of the 18 transported that year wore 05 tags. Racoons and skunks are very common in urban areas and coyotes walk the centre lines of residential streets so they don't get hit by cars ;) The several lynx I have seen have been in the upper Rockies and not at the coast.

"coyotes walk the center line of residential streets so they don't get hit by cars....

Pine martens are a regular sight in the central Highlands. I've not seen wild boar locally, but I understand they are often seen over in Argyll and will, as you pointed out, breed with domestic pigs with great success. That's the same issue we have with the wildcat/feral cat/domestic cat populations throughout the Highlands.

One of the arguments put forth by those in favour of re-introducing wolves has more to do with urbanites' ideas of deer-stalking and so-called blood sports than with balancing nature. Wolves as a pack will hunt the animal least likely to need great energy expense. That will not be the mature red deer. By the way, Scotland presently has a red deer population of something like 350,000; many die for want of forage in the harshest of winters but deer management programs are generally good and hind meat is readily available as venison in butcher shops and restaurants.

Rex

[Alan H]

Bears are rarely seen near town, but back in the 80's (& before urban sprawl), I had a friend out hunting deer near the afore mentioned Lake Padden, when a predatory black bear chased him up a tree & climbed up after him. Fortunately for my friend he still had his rifle & shot and killed the bear.

Wow....I've never heard of a black bear being that aggressive. With a big bear, that would be a pretty scary experience.

[BoldHighlander]

There's no need to go tromping around raising a great noise all the time.

Unless your in known bear country. Most attacks (other than getting between mama & her cubs, or a predatory bear) is from a surprise encounter (for both parties involved).

Regarding adders, I've seen plenty of rattlesnakes in my day, darned near stepped on one on a trail a few years ago, just after it had killed a gopher. It hadn't started eating it yet. I saw the gopher and stepped over it. Two seconds later I saw the head of the snake and covered the next ten yards REALLY fast! . The snake never rattled at me.

I lived for a time in Saugus (CA). The house I lived in had a big scrubby hill behind it. In the afternoon you could hear the snakes rattling. My roomies had a pair of dogs, and I was told if I ever saw the dogs act funny & head into the house it meant a snake was in the yard. Never saw any, only heard them, so I really never gave them much thought.

I use to watch roadrunners run up along the fence top to that hill & go hunting dinner

[BoldHighlander]

Wow....I've never heard of a black bear being that aggressive. With a big bear, that would be a pretty scary experience.

Its rare. I've read about predatory black bears a few years back. There was one that "hunted" fishermen. He was killed after he had attacked & partially eaten 3 fishermen (I can't recall the state).

I can't recall the title, but I'll keep my eye out for the book ("Bear Attacks"?). Its a very interesting read.

[Alan H]

Its rare. I've read about predatory black bears a few years back. There was one that "hunted" fishermen. He was killed after he had attacked & partially eaten 3 fishermen (I can't recall the state).

Grizzlies, sure. I would wear bells and windchimes and raise bloody hell in Grizzly country!

[BoldHighlander]

Grizzlies, sure. I would wear bells and windchimes and raise bloody hell in Grizzly country!

I'd pay to see a photo of you looking like that!