Green energy companies gathering for a major exhibition and conference in Glasgow are being asked for their support in protecting Scotland's mountains. In the absence of political leadership from Scottish Ministers, the Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) is calling for energy companies that care about the environment to collaborate on plans to protect the most sensitive and precious mountain areas from unsuitable wind farm developments. Letters have gone out to many companies attending RenewableUK 2012 (at the SECC from 30 October to 1 November), inviting them to discuss how to harmonise clean energy production with the preservation of Scotland’s natural…

Another baby beaver has been successfully born at the Scottish Beaver Trial site in Kapdale, Argyll. Trial field staff made the welcome discovery after reviewing camera footage from the site and spotted the first time parents, Trude and Eoghann, emerge from their lodge with their new born youngster following closely behind. The kit was first spotted at the end of September and the youngster, who has been identified as a little female has just received her first health check from the trial team. In August, three beaver kits were spotted. They came from the pair living on the Dubh Loch,…

The Scottish SPCA is appealing for information after a golden eagle was found close to death having been shot. The bird was found next to the Southern Upland Way by a member of the public on Saturday (6 October). The golden eagle is now receiving veterinary treatment and specialist care at the National Wildlife Rescue Centre. Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn said, “This eagle has been caused tremendous pain and suffering. “It became grounded after being shot, which caused the feathers on its tail and wings to break and meant it was unable to search for food. “If the eagle hadn’t…

A new report commissioned jointly by Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, the Cairngorms National Park and Scottish Natural Heritage reveals widespread public appreciation of wild land in Scotland, and deep concern that it may be under threat. The report, Public Perception Survey of Wildness in Scotland, measures how much people: Use the outdoors, perceive the idea of wildness, and value wild areas. The results show that: 81 per cent visit the outdoors at least every few months 72 per cent consider it ‘very important’ that Scotland has wild areas 60 per cent feel that wild areas in Scotland…

A range of national actions to save the Scottish wildcat look set to be agreed over the next six months. The move follows the first-ever meeting of a diverse group of land management, research and conservation organisations at Scottish Natural Heritage’s (SNH) Battleby conference centre, near Perth, on Friday 14 September. The Scottish Wildcat Conservation Action Group includes representatives from SNH (chair); Forestry Commission Scotland; Cairngorms National Park Authority; Scottish Wildcat Association; Royal Zoological Society of Scotland; Scottish Gamekeepers Association; National Museum of Scotland; University of Oxford, Wildlife Conservation Research Unit; Highland Foundation for Wildlife, and the National Trust for…

RSPB Scotland has issued an appeal and a reward for information, following the discovery of the body of a golden eagle on Deeside. The bird, fitted with a satellite transmitter, was found on 5 May 2012, after signals sent by the transmitter indicated that the bird had not moved for several days. The body was found, lying face down, with its wings folded, under a tree branch, close to a lay-by on a quiet country road near Aboyne, and was seized as evidence by officers from Grampian police. The carcass was then taken for a post mortem at the Scottish…

The Scottish Wildcat Association (SWA) is warning that the number of pure-bred wildcats has fallen so low that the species could be extinct within monnths. The SWA reviewed 2,000 records of camera trap sightings, eyewitness reports and also road kill evidence which they say suggests there might only be 35 wildcats living in Scotland. This is far fewer than previously thought and a recent report by Scottish Natural Heritage estimated that there might be 150 breeding pairs of the endangered creatures. Disease and inter-breeding with domestic and feral cats are the main causes of the reduction in number of of…