Next year (and for a few years afterwards), I am going to be walking as many Munros as possible. (Summer months only). It occurred to me that I am likely to come into contact with wildlife.
Is there any that I need to be wary of and if so what preparations should I make should I encounter them?
Rob
Record your sightings of wildlife and birds on this board - even better if you managed to capture a photo.
Warning
Please avoid giving out the locations of nest sites for rare birds.
Wary of wildlife
- overloaded
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Re: Wary of wildlife
by Mal Grey » Tue Aug 18, 2020 2:43 pm
overloaded wrote:Next year (and for a few years afterwards), I am going to be walking as many Munros as possible. (Summer months only). It occurred to me that I am likely to come into contact with wildlife.
Is there any that I need to be wary of and if so what preparations should I make should I encounter them?
Rob
Only the miniature stuff that wants to eat you; i.e. the midges, ticks, clegs and keds. A good insect repellent and consider a headnet for the times when they are bad, which is very dependent on conditions. If you're there a lot, though, at some point, you're going to get eaten!
Re: Wary of wildlife
by nigheandonn » Tue Aug 18, 2020 2:51 pm
It's probably sensible to be mildly wary of cows, especially if you have a dog with you, but I'm sure there are plenty of those down your way! 

Re: Wary of wildlife
by LDPWalker » Wed Aug 19, 2020 2:04 pm
Hiya, you may encounter adders (I've seen a surprising number in the Scottish hills over the years), so don't go touching any of those! Give them a wide berth and you will not have any problems.
Roger
Roger
Re: Wary of wildlife
by Caberfeidh » Wed Aug 19, 2020 3:08 pm
A badger might give you a nip, but they're tricky to catch to make them nip you. Some places have wild boar if you really want to get yourself worked up, but it's amazing how many people don't get attacked by them. Rutting stags can be a problem in autumn... http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=103&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=stag+nation&start=15#p13298
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Re: Wary of wildlife
by cantabrigian » Wed Aug 19, 2020 3:19 pm
nigheandonn wrote:It's probably sensible to be mildly wary of cows, especially if you have a dog with you, but I'm sure there are plenty of those down your way!
Cows can (albeit rarely) be fatal: Man, 82, killed in attack by herd of cows in Yorkshire dales
Re: Wary of wildlife
by overloaded » Wed Aug 19, 2020 6:09 pm
Thank you everyone. no mention of big cats at all then 
Given me plenty to think about there

Given me plenty to think about there

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Re: Wary of wildlife
by Caberfeidh » Thu Aug 20, 2020 9:12 am
O we forgot to mention the big cats... 

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Re: Wary of wildlife
by nigheandonn » Thu Aug 20, 2020 11:14 am
Isn't that Dartmoor?
I mean, there are some fairly big cats, although I think you'd be lucky to see one, but that's different from Big Cats.
I mean, there are some fairly big cats, although I think you'd be lucky to see one, but that's different from Big Cats.

Re: Wary of wildlife
by CharlesT » Thu Aug 20, 2020 11:46 am
Caberfeidh wrote:O we forgot to mention the big cats...
Or, equally terrifying, Mr C roaming the hills with a bone saw!

Re: Wary of wildlife
by Caberfeidh » Fri Aug 21, 2020 10:08 am
A guide to the horrors of Scottish wildlife:
- Primordial Yakky Musk-Ox Goat-Beasts
- Adder, Glen Lui
- Ferocious sea-monsters
- Giant sharks. No teeth, but they'll give you a nasty suck...
- Weird Phantom Puddock of Castle Tioram
- Man eating fish, Inveraray. Pickled onion with that?
- Badgers - ferocious, wild and livid.
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Re: Wary of wildlife
by Tringa » Wed Aug 26, 2020 8:06 am
One other to add - feral goat. I have never heard of anyone being butted/injured by one and all the ones I have seen passed me by with an air of disdain, but the males are the smelliest animals I have ever met
Dave

Dave
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Re: Wary of wildlife
by MaximusGreatest » Wed Sep 30, 2020 2:13 pm
LDPWalker wrote:Hiya, you may encounter adders (I've seen a surprising number in the Scottish hills over the years), so don't go touching any of those! Give them a wide berth and you will not have any problems.
Roger
Oh my Adders .....




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