Wildlife

A Sparrowhawk in Dumfries

The Nikon Comedy Wildlife finalists 2026 announced

The snow leopard cubs are pulling in crowds to the Highland Wildlife Park

Adorable new faces lure visitors to Highland Wildlife Park

I moved house to Leith 14 months ago and this is our second intruder

New plans have launched to protect and expand the wildcat population in Scotland

Plans launched to make Scottish wildcat population 'thrive' by 2045

Little egrets have bred in north-east Scotland for the first time, as climate change pushes the range of these once Mediterranean birds further north.

Scotland home to UK's most northern egret colony after chicks born

A Goshawk was recently killed after it was pulled from a crow trap, which was being used under the General Licence

Licence permitting the killing of wild birds is 'not fit for purpose'

Mingulay in the Outer Hebrides is owned by NTS property PIC: Julian Paren/geograph.org.

Mapping the future of uninhabited islands in the Outer Hebrides

The Isle of Gigha, just west of the Kintyre peninsula

Hay's Way: Gigha's fine milk, fresh hotel rooms and landscape changes

The wind farm will be visible from the Isle of Iona, the NTS said

NTS opposes giant offshore wind farm amid threat to views from islands

Muirburn, controlled burning in cooler months, can help reduce the risk of wildfires

Farmers: Muirburn licensing 'should be delayed' in wake of wildfires

In second is Rothesay with an average property price of £111,764, which makes it among Scotland’s cheapest coastal towns. Located on the Isle of Bute, the town can be reached by ferry.

Hay's Way: Back on the road after being Stateside

Birdfy's nestbox camera lets you watch wildlife blossom from your smartphone screen

Birdfy Nest review: Is this bird camera worth it?

A ranger at Historic Environment Scotland has issued concerns that a "very rare" habitat of the Northern Brown Argus butterfly which calls Holyrood Park home may have been severely damaged by the recent wildfire on Salisbury Crags

'Very rare' butterfly colony may have been damaged in recent wildfire

A general view of a wildfire in Cairngorms National Park

Major incident due to Cairngorms wildfire as hundreds evacuated

A fox cub with its head trapped in a plastic bottle, the cub was rescued by wildlife experts.

Scottish SPCA rescues fox cub with head trapped in bottle

Nesting gannets and their young

Scots gannet colony hit by bird flu could take two decades to recover

Scotsman reporter Katharine Hay gets ready to board the Greyhound bus from Boston to Miami as her pursuit of the Tartan Army continues across the US

Hay's Way: And it's off to Miami as I follow the Tartan Army - by bus

Bass Rock, off the coast of North Berwick, has been bought by the RSPB

Bass Rock landowner sells historic gannet colony site to RSPB Scotland

Wind farm stock image

Legal challenge made against ministers' rejection of '£1bn wind farm'

A gannet among vegetation on the cliffs

Islanders launch bid for summer guga hunt despite backlash

SP Energy Networks is helping waterways and wildlife in the south of Scotland thrive through a new partnership with Galloway Fisheries Trust and Forestry as well as Land Scotland, restoring peatland around Loch Moan to improve the health of Dumfries and Galloway’s River Cree.

Previous forested peatland restored to help river flow for fish

Two four-week-old mottled owl chicks born at Scottish Owl Centre, West Lothian.

Cute video shows tiny newborn mottled owls at Scottish wildlife centre

Mullagrach Island in the Summer Isles. PIC: Savills

Scottish island with 'true sense of seclusion' comes up for auction

Fanta and Tango have been microchipped to be monitored after they are released.

Two tiny red squirrel kits rescued after being found in ditch

Richard Stein and Sally Lovell who have decided to put their home, Harbour Island, off the coast of Argyll, up for sale.

“We’re selling our magical 9.7 acre Scottish island for £1.25m”

'Mesmerising' Scottish island fully re-opens to public after upgrade

Stuckendroin Estate

Nature travel company banks Loch Lomond estate for growing rainforest

The critically endangered pine hoverfly, which has found a natural home in the Cairngorms

Species comeback as 30,000th pine hoverfly released in Cairngorms

Doug Allan. Picture supplied.

Photographer Doug Allan on global warming and saving polar bears

Doug Allan

Interview: Doug Allan, wildlife cameraman

Laggan Bay opens on Islay marking a ‘significant moment’

5 of Scotland’s best spring walks that end at top eateries

A helicopter drops water on a wildfire on the Isle of Bute in April this year (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

Rural villages in ‘imminent danger’ of wildfire spread, experts warn

A golden eagle was illegally killed in October 2023

Golden eagles at 'unacceptable risk' with wind farm plans

The lodges are located near Kylesku Bridge along the North Coast 500. Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto

'Remarkable' job opportunity in North Coast 500 idyll

Amy Liptrot, author of The Outrun and The Instant has written a new book that explores her fascination with seaweed.

The Outrun's Amy Liptrot takes a deep dive into the world of seaweed

The seal with the plastic wrapped around its neck

Lighthouse contractors rescue seal with 'unwanted plastic necklace'

Wildlife film maker Gordon Buchanan opens up about his life and career in his memoir, In the Hide, out now

Wildlife filmmaker and cameraman Gordon Buchanan comes out of the hide

Seagrass fairy circles in the Sound of Barra

Rare 'fairy circles' spotted in underwater forests off Scotland

Power of the pine revealed in new study

Power of the pine - study shows 1,500 species depend on Scots conifer

Birds benefit hugely from garden feeders in the winter

How to feed garden birds cheaply ahead of the Big Garden Birdwatch

Kemp's ridley sea turtle is the rarest species of sea turtle in the world and the most endangered

Endangered sea turtle recovering in aquarium after washing up in Tiree

Nature charities say fake cobwebs can trap hedgehogs, birds, bats, and eve insects

The one Halloween decoration which can accidentally harm wildlife

Winner of Wildlife photographer 2025

In pictures incredible images from Wildlife Photographer of the Year

The eight birds competing this year are all species in need of special conservation support

The RSPB has launched the UK's very own 'Bird of the Year' contest

Sparrowhawks are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly kill or injure them

Beautiful bird of prey suffered 'harrowing death' from poisoning

Watch as rare Scottish Pine Martens are reintroduced after 100 years

The Scotsman Top Stories

Scotland has failed to meet its latest target for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the latest official figures show. Picture: John Giles/PA Wire

Fail: Scotland misses climate target

Pro-independence protesters with Scottish Saltire flags (top) march for Scottish independence. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images

Yousaf: Growing popular support for Yes the only way to Scottish independence

Nadine Dorries. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

SNP MP cleared of bullying Nadine Dorries