Many of the United Kingdoms' most threatened mammals can be seen in Glenlivet and the Cairngorms.
As midsummer comes and goes, short nights do not allow sufficient time for nocturnal predators to find enough food to sustain growing families before sunrise. This is the best time of year for spotting Wild Cat and Pine Marten.
Brown Hare are easiest to spot in summer when the days are so long that they cannot feed under the cover of darkeness. Badger are also most likely to be seen out foraging for worms on long summer evenings.
In Autumn Red Deer gather at traditional rutting grounds for one of the most spectacular events of the wildlife year. As the hills echo with the sound of their roars, stags compete with one another to defend harems of hinds against all comers.
Otter are resident along both the rivers Livet and Avon. In autumn they follow spawning salmon high into the Braes of Glenlivet to feast before the onset of cold weather. Winter is the best time to see Mountain Hare during thaws when their white coats are conspicuous against brown heather moors.
Roe Deer
In early summer Roe Deer often venture out onto open ground to browse on the succulent growth of sweet young grass. By mid summer, as their rut gets under way, bucks defend their territories vigorously against rivals.
The Red Squirrel is everybodys favourite. They can be spotted at any time of the year foraging in the tops of our Scots Pines for cones.
