Scotland has many unique and interesting species of wildlife and its range of habitants is more diverse than almost any country of similar size in the world, mainly due to this wonderful natural environment on offer. 

This huge fish is the second largest fish in the world, reaching 11 metres long and weighing up to 7 tonnes. It is usually seen swimming close to the surface with the huge fin, up to 2 metres high, breaking the water along with the tips of the tail fin and nose. The basking shark feeds by opening its mouth as its swims to allow water to be filtered through its gills. The mouth, which is over 1 metre wide, takes in the equivalent to a swimming pool each hour and the gills trap any plankton. Basking sharks only eat plankton and are most frequently seen in summer in areas where plankton is abundant.
Although not uncommon around the West Coast of Scotland nobody knows where these sharks go during the winter when the plankton dies, or where they give birth to their live young. What is known is that the fish has a huge liver for storing surplus food in the form of oil. This supply can help the basking shark to survive through the months when there is no food available.

Scotland's Bottlenose Dolphins are considerably larger than those found in the warmer waters off Florida, USA. They are normally between 3 and 4 metres in length and are found swimming in pods of up to ten animals. Bottlenose dolphins are grey in colouring with a pale and almost white underside and their lower jaw is distinctive as it extends out further than the upper jaw. They eat fish, such as Atlantic Salmon and can be seen jumping out of the water and swimming at up to 20mph when hunting.

The Otter is a large predator that is very rarely seen. It is a fish-eating animal that is highly adapted for swimming and is found in lochs, rivers and seas. In populated areas Otters are nocturnal; however, on the coast and in remote areas they also fish during the day. The Otter had declined in numbers since the 1950's due to pesticides entering the food chain. In many parts of the United Kingdom in became extinct. Otters in Scotland suffered far less than elsewhere and recent surveys have shown that numbers are increasing throughout the country.

There are two species of Seal found in Scottish waters. The larger species is the Grey Seal which comes ashore to breed in the Autumn on remote Islands and isolated beaches. The smaller common Seal is more widespread. It breeds in Summer on sandbanks and gives birth on land. Their pups are able to swim immediately. Both species are fish eaters and Scotland has 113, 000 Grey Seals, 40% of the World population, and 45,000 Common Seals. Although protected by law, Seals have been victims of an ongoing conflict about fish numbers with fisherman.

The Badger is familiar to us all but few people have actually seen a living badger in the countryside. A large and powerful animal, the badger is strictly nocturnal and feeds on a wide range of roots, grubs and carrion. The huge sets where it lives are much easier to find with their numerous tunnel entrances and mounds of excavated earth.
The badger is still widespread throughout Scotland including urban areas but the Scottish Wildlife Trust believes that this mammal needs out protection and conservation wherever the paths of man and badger cross. The Falls of Clyde Visitor Centre at New Lanark runs regular badger watches.

Largest member of the Grouse family, and lives in the pine forests of the Scottish Highlands. The Capercaillie is a big, heavy bird that can weigh up to 4kg and looks similar to a Turkey. The male is very distinctive with dark grey or black feathers and blue-green feathers on the chest. The wings have brown feathers with white flashes and there is a splash of crimson above the eye. He has a beard, feathered feet and thick, white beak. The female is smaller and more camouflaged for nesting and rearing chicks. Her wings, back and tail are brown and her chest and throat are white with brown flecks and a patch of deep orange. On average the Capercaillie lives up to nine years. Mating takes place in spring. The male uses a very unusual courtship display known as a lek to attract females. He finds an open space and struts around with his tail fanned out, head poiting upwards and wings scraping the ground while making lots of strange gurgling, wheezing noises. The dance ends with drumming and cork-popping sounds with the bird jumping in the air flapping its wings. Sometimes a few males use the same spot and fights can break out, often resulting in serious injury and even death.

This is a small species of bat, identifiable by its pinkish-brown face and large, furry feet, designed to grab prey from the surface of the water. The bats' preferred habitat is woodland, often close to the water, where colonies can sometimes hold several thousand individuals. In summer they roost here or in house attics while from September to April they hibernate in humid caves, tunnels and cellars. Their diet consists of small flying insects such as mosquitoes, gnats and moths.

Sometimes referred to as the blue hare, this graceful creature is abundant in upland areas and on many Scottish Islands. The species in Scotland differs from its Irish counterpart in that its coat turns white in winter; this camoflage effect is more practical on mainland hills than on the islands, where snow is scarce. The winter coat is, however, designed for thermal protection and this certainly comes in handy on exposed Scottish peaks.

This cat-sized mammal is often mistaken for a Polecat, but it is in fact larger with a bushy tail and cream fur on its chest and inner ears. Pine Martens hunt and forage at night and have a varied diet including field voles, birds, insects, carrion, berries and fungi. They are agile tree climbers and have a playful but elusive nature. In the past Pine Marten numbers and distribution were severely reduced by woodland and forest clearance, trapping and hunting. Nowadays the species is protected by strict conservation laws and numbers are gradually increasing. In Scotland, this rare species is mainly found north of the Great Glen. Its range stretches from Loch Torridon to the Black Isle but recently it has been seen further south on the banks of Loch Lomond. It has also been recently introduced to Galloway.

Perhaps the most celebrated of all Scottish mammals, the Red Deer is also the largest and one of the most populous. The current population stands at roughly 300,000, double what it was as recently as 1965. Most of these animals live in the Highlands and Islands, though large numbers can be found in the Galloway hills. Stags and hinds live in seperate herds for much of the year but come together rather vocally each Autumn in the breeding seacon, or rut. A Stag may mate with up to twenty hinds in a given year. Calves are born in June.

The Red Squirrel has a bushy tail and ear-tufts and is only half the body weight of the introduced American Grey Squirrel that is found in many towns and cities. It thrives best in conifer woodland where it eats pine seeds, nuts, berries, shoots and fungi. This species has been declining throughout the last century and there appears to be a close relationship between the continuing spread of the Grey Squirrel and the decline of the Red. However, where there are spruced dominated coniferous woodland there are examples where both the Red and Grey Squirrels have survived together.

The Water Vole is a rodent and our largest Vole. It is associated with wetlands and is found living in the banks of ditches and burns. It feeds on all kinds of waterside plants. You can identify if a Water Vole is present by the characteristic stems with bite marks and oval droppings. It was once widespread in the United Kingdom; however, numbers have declined dramatically in the last 10 years from an estimated 2.3 million in 1990 to 354,000 in 1998. Evidence shows that the introduced American Mink has contributed to the extinction of local Water Vole populations. The fact that they survive in certain wetlands suggests that their habitat is vital for survival.
Scottish Wildlife Trust has selected this species as a Conservation priority and has developed an action programme of survey, habitat improvement, and mink control and monitoring to help save this beautiful animal which is part of the freshwater habitat in Scotland.

The Wildcat looks like a larger and heavier version of the domestic Tabby Cat but is a distinct species with sub-species throughout Europe and beyond. Characteristically it has a broad face, very obvious body stripes and a thick, striped, blunt tail. Like other small cats it feeds on a wide range of mammals and birds and can be found both in woodland and open country. Mainly nocturnal, the Wildcat is secretive and very rarely seen. Since the early part of last century the Wildcat has been confined to the Scottish Highlands.

The feral Goats that are frequently found in the upland and coastal areas of Scotland are descendants of domestic animals but now live truly wild. No two animals look the same, given the tremendous variety in coat colours and lengths. Mating takes place in late Autumn and kids are generally born into the chilly climes of January. Wild Goats live together in herds, often in relatively large numbers.

The osprey is a large bird of prey and only eats fish. It spots the fish in the water while hovering high above the water, then plunges in to grasp them with its long claws. Brown above and pale beneath, this bird arrives in April and rebuilds its huge nest of sticks that is normally precariously positioned on top of a high tree neat water. The chicks are fed torn-up fish and after a lot of practise at flying they set off at the end of August to spend the winter in West Africa. Ospreys became extinct in Scotland in 1916 through persecution and only returned to successfully breed in 1953.

Peregrine Falcons are high-speed hunters that fly above their prey and dive steeply to make the kill. They prefer open country such as upland moors in Scotland where territories can cover many square miles.
Peregrine Falcons pair for life and return to the same nesting site each year, normally on a cliff ledge. Although they are fairly widespread globally, Peregrine Falcons are an endangered bird in the United Kingdom. It has been persecuted by gamekeepers and targeted by egg hunters. Numbers also suffered because of agricultural pesticides entering the food chain; however, the species has recovered significantly since the 1970's, and some are even breeding successfully in cities. Peregrine Falcons may be seen at several Scottish Wildlife Trust reserves, the most notable site being the Falls of Clyde Reserve at New Lanark. This site is a regular nesting site for Peregrines and provides one of the best opportunities to view them. During the breeding season, the reserve is watched 24 hours a day in 'Operation Peregrine