Work is currently underway to establish a haven for the Scottish wildcat in a remote location on the Ardnamurchan peninsula. The idea is to encourage breeding of the pure wildcat, which is on the verge of extinction, by neutering local feral domestic cats to prevent them breeding with the wildcats. The project, which covers an area of 250 square miles, is being run by scientist Dr Paul O’Donoghue and the Aspinall Foundation who took over from the Scottish Wildcat Association (SWA) last year. Dr O’Donoghue told the BBC Radio that the animals had the best chance of surviving in the…

A report published today finds that South Scotland could support up to 16 pairs of golden eagles. The Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) report found that, with suitable conditions, many more breeding golden eagle pairs could inhabit South Scotland. Currently, there are just one to two pairs attempting to breed in Galloway, and one to three pairs attempting to breed in the Scottish Borders. The report finds that South Scotland could support between 11 and 16 pairs. As a whole, the Scottish golden eagle population numbers 440 pairs, mainly in the Highlands and Islands. The report presents a novel approach in…

The people of Rannoch have launched a ‘Keep Rannoch Wild’ campaign to resist plans for a windfarm on a key area of Scotland’s newly officially-identified wild land. Many of the population are already supporting Keep Rannoch Wild and the number is growing all the time – so too is the number of formal objections lodged against the Talladh a Bheithe wind farm scheme. Campaigners will work with the John Muir Trust, the Mountaineering Council of Scotland and alongside local estates and others in fighting to preserve the wild lands which make this area special. Douglas Wynn, a spokesman for Keep…

Scotland's first full post mortem of a humpback whale, found dead at Fishnish on the Isle of Mull this week, has been carried out by veterinary pathologists with the assistance of conservation charity Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust. The seven-metre, eight-ton animal, believed to be the first humpback whale ever to strand on Mull, was discovered floating close to shore on Wednesday 25 June, and was craned out of the sea the following evening. The male calf had not recently been feeding and was probably still dependent on its mother. Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust’s Science and Strandings Officer Dr…

Do you spend time on Scotland’s high mountains? Are you interested in the birds that you see and hear while you are up there? The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) is offering free training to hillwalkers and climbers in July and August, to help improve knowledge and enjoyment of upland birds and hopefully increase the number of people recording their sightings to the BTO. During the day you will improve your identification skills and learn more about the upland birds that live on our mountains. You will also learn more about how your sightings can help contribute to conservation science.…