Publication - Corporate report
Wildlife crime in Scotland: 2020 annual report
The ninth wildlife crime annual report, with new data from the financial year 2019 to 2020.
Appendix 4 - Health of the species
| Common name | Badger | Brown long eared bat | Common Pipistrelle bat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Species name | Meles meles | Plecotus auritus | Pipistrellus pipistrellus |
| Summary | Badgers are a member of the mustelid family and live in networks of underground tunnels called setts. Setts feature large entrances and mounds of excavated earth outside. Cubs are born in January or February but spend the first two or three months underground, emerging in the spring. Their ideal habitat is deciduous woodland with grazed pasture nearby, but they will use most open habitats | Long-eared bats roost in tree holes and loft voids in old buildings. Strongly associated with woodland. They feed in large gardens, along hedgerows, in parks and in woodland. They hibernate over winter, between November and April. | Pipistrelles often roost in the roof spaces of houses and can often be seen in gardens at dusk. Pipistrelles hibernate over winter, usually between November and April, although they may come out to feed on warm days. |
| Diet | They mainly feed on earthworms, but also eat small mammals, birds' eggs, fruit and roots and bulbs. | They feed on flying insects especially moths which they find in the dark using echolocation. | They feed on flying insects including midges and moths which they find in the dark using echolocation. |
| Appearance | Badgers are large and grey, with a short fluffy tail, black belly and paws and the distinctive black and white-striped face | The brown long-eared bat has greyish-brown fur and characteristically big ears. It shows a relatively slow, fluttery flight. | Pipistrelles have dark, golden-brown fur, a slightly paler underside and a darker mask around the face. Their flight is rapid with lots of twists and turns. |
| Size | Length: up to about 1m including tail, weight: 7-17kg | Length: 9cm Weight: 5-11g Wingspan: 25cm | Length: 3-5cm Weight: 4-8g Wingspan: 20cm |
| Lifespan | Average of 3 years (up to 14) | Average of 4-5 years (up to 30) | Average of 4-5 years (up to 16) |
| Status | Protected in the UK by the Protection of Badgers Act, 1992, and the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. | Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 (England and Wales) and the Conservation (Natural Habitats etc) Regulations 1994 (as amended) in Scotland and classified as a Priority Species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. | Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 (England and Wales) and the Conservation (Natural Habitats etc) Regulations 1994 (as amended) in Scotland and classified as a Priority Species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. |
| Distribution | Found throughout most of mainland Scotland. Absent from most Scottish Islands. | Widespread throughout the country, but absent from most Scottish Islands | Widespread, found throughout the country, only absent from Shetland and some other Scottish islands. |
| Population | The available evidence indicates that the badger population is rising in England, although the trend in Scotland is less clear. | National data shows both the GB and Scottish brown long eared bat populations to be stable | The population of common pipistrelle in Scotland is stable, whilst that of the soprano pipistrelle has increased since 1999. Both species collectively account for over 80% of Scotland's bats. |
| Monitoring | Scottish Badgers collates distribution data collected by volunteers. Disease monitoring in badgers is largely carried out via road casualties. | Monitored via the National Bat Monitoring Programme, using data from roost counts in Scotland. | Monitored via the National Bat Monitoring Programme, using data from field surveys and roost counts. |
| Threats | Construction of roads, housing and other developments may have a direct impact on badger habitat, this should be mitigated by planning control. A major cause of mortality in badgers is road accidents. Illegal persecution is also an issue in some areas. | On-going threats to Scottish bats include pressure from human disturbance to roosting sites and foraging grounds. Roosts may be lost during development through demolition or renovation of buildings without provisions to replace roosting sites | On-going threats to Scottish bats include pressure from human disturbance to roosting sites and foraging grounds. Roosts may be lost during development through demolition or renovation of buildings without provisions to replace roosting sites |
| Common name | FWPM | Red deer | Roe Deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Species name | Margaritifera margaritifera | Cervus elaphus | Capreolus capreolus |
| Summary | Freshwater pearl mussels live in the bottom of fast-flowing streams and rivers where they may be completely or partially covered in sand or gravel. They need water of the highest quality as they spend their first year harmlessly attached to the gills of either salmon or trout before dropping off onto the river bed. | Red deer have adapted to living on open hillsides and moorlands throughout much of Scotland. They can also be found in coniferous and deciduous forests. Although symbolic of wild and remote areas, red deer now also occupy areas closer to people, even entering some suburbs. | Roe deer are generally seen in loose family groups or as individual animals. They are generally found in woodlands, particularly around the edges where the woodland meets open ground, including farmland. They are increasingly found in and around our towns. |
| Diet | They feed by filtering food particles out of the river water, filtering up to 50l a day | Red deer graze and browse a wide variety of plants including grasses, red deer heather, shrubs and trees. | Their diet includes a variety of woodland plants including herbs, brambles, ivy, heather, bilberry & coniferous tree shoots |
| Appearance | They are dark brown to black and much larger than their marine relatives | Red Deer are dark russet-brown in colour, with a paler buff rump patch and a pale tail. Males have large, branching antlers, increasing in size as they get older. | Roe deer are small with a summer coat of reddish brown turning to grey, pale brown or black in winter. They have a black nose, white chin and white rump patch with a short tush in females. Antlers are rough, short and have three tines on each. |
| Size | Shell length: 80-145mm | Length: 1.7-2.6m Weight: 100-340kg Height: 1.2m at the shoulder | Length: 0.9-1.3m Weight: 10-25kg Height: 60-75cm at the shoulder |
| Lifespan | Over 100 years | 16-18 years | Average 7 years (up to 16) |
| Status | Critically endangered in Europe(IUCN), Classified as a Priority Species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. | Common protected under the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996. | Common protected under the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996. |
| Distribution | There are freshwater pearl mussel populations in 115 watercourses in Scotland with the majority of these rivers located in the Highlands and the Western Isles | Common throughout Scotland | Common throughout Scotland |
| Population | Declining in Scotland | Evidence suggests that population level is stable. | Evidence suggests that population level is stable. |
| Monitoring | National survey published in 2009 and 2015. Our most critical freshwater pearl mussel populations are monitored every six years as part of NatureScot's Site Condition Monitoring programme. | Actions to monitor the numbers and impacts of red deer in the uplands are included in the Deer Management Plans produced by Deer Management Groups | Actions to monitor the numbers and impacts of roe deer in the uplands are included in the Deer Management Plans produced by Deer Management Groups |
| Threats | Illegal pearl-fishing invariably kills mussels. Water pollution and damage to river beds and banks can seriously affect populations | Disease and poaching will have an impact on the health of deer, although there is no evidence to suggest that either are having an impact at the population level. | Disease and poaching will have an impact on the health of deer, although there is no evidence to suggest that either are having an impact at the population level. |
| Common name | Brown Hare | Atlantic Salmon | Golden eagle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Species name | Lepus europaeus | Salmo Salar | Aquila chrysaetos |
| Summary | Hares shelter in a 'form', a shallow depression in the ground or grasses. They are most common in grassland and at woodland edges. Often associated with cultivated areas. In early spring, brown hares are at their most visible as the breeding season encourages fighting or 'boxing'. | Atlantic salmon enter rivers throughout the year and travel upstream from November to February, to breed in gravel-bottomed headwaters. Most, but not all, fish die after spawning. In Scotland, juveniles will typically stay in freshwater for up to 2 years, then migrate to the sea as smolts – physiological changes allow them to survive in saltwater. | A bird mainly of the mountains and moorlands in Scotland, golden eagles have large territories, nesting on rocky cliff faces and in trees where it builds a nest or 'eyrie'. Most pairs have several alternative nests within their territory These nests are often used by successive generations to rear their own young. Golden eagles form long term pair bonds. |
| Diet | They eat grasses and other herbaceous vegetation including various crops. Shrubs may be browsed in winter. | Atlantic salmon feed on invertebrates and small fish in the sea. | A wide range of mainly medium-sized birds and mammals (inc. grouse, ducks, rabbits and hares), varying regionally. Carrion is taken to varying levels and more important in winter. |
| Appearance | Hares are russet-brown in colour, with a pale belly and a white tail. They are larger than rabbits and mountain hares, with longer legs and longer ears with black tips. | Adult Atlantic salmon are generally larger than resident trout; they are silvery with a few dark spots on the back and may have a pinkish flush to the belly. Mature males may develop a hooked lower jaw, or kype, in the breeding season. | A massive bird of prey, adults are mainly dark brown, with a golden head and neck. Young birds have white patches in their wings and a white base to the tail, these reducing over 3-4 years until they get their dark adult plumage. |
| Size | Length: 50-70cm Weight: 3-4kg | Length: up to 1.3m Weight: up to 35kg | Length: 76-90cm Wingspan: 2.1m Weight: 3.7-5.3kg |
| Lifespan | Average 2-3 years (up to 12) | Grilse may spend 1-3 years in freshwater and one year at sea. Larger multi-sea winter fish may spend 1-3 years in freshwater and 2-3 years at sea. | Typical lifespan of around 14 years |
| Status | Classified as a Priority Species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. | Classified as Lower Risk/Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. The long declining spring stock component is classified as a Priority Species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. | Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, and classified in the UK as a Green List species under the Birds of Conservation Concern review. |
| Distribution | Widespread throughout Scotland including some islands, largely replaced by mountain hares in upland areas | They are mostly found rivers in the north and west and spend most of their lives out at sea. | The species can be seen widely across the Highlands and Islands primarily in upland habitats, with a very small population in the Southern Uplands, bolstered by the ongoing South Scotland Golden Eagle Project. |
| Population | Previously suffered significant declines, but the population now seems to be more stable, albeit at a lower level than formerly. | Declining globally. The total rod catch in of Atlantic salmon in 2019 was the fourth lowest recorded since records began in 1952. | The population increased between the 2003 and 2015 national surveys, up to 508 occupied territories. This passed the 500 pair target required by NatureScot to reach favourable conservation status nationally. |
| Monitoring | British Trust for Ornithology has collected data from 1995. The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust long time-series game bag are also used for monitoring purposes. | The North Atlantic Conservation Organisation and the International Council for Exploration of the Seas Working Group on North Atlantic Salmon maintain an overview of Atlantic salmon stocks | Around half the breeding population is monitored annually under the Scottish Raptor Monitoring Scheme mainly by Scottish Raptor Study Group members. |
| Threats | Brown hares are a quarry species and driven shoots can reduce populations by 30 - 70%. Other illegal forms of hunting including hare coursing may add to this | The illegal exploitation of Atlantic salmon occurs both inland and in estuarine coastal areas. Freshwater quality, connectivity from the river mouth to potential spawning areas and predation can have a significant impact. Only 5% of fish leaving our rivers return from the sea as adults. | Natural mortality can include collisions with power lines, starvation and disease. Illegal persecution regionally remains a significant concern. |
| Common name | Hen Harrier | Peregrine Falcon | Red Kite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Species name | Circus cyaneus | Falco peregrinus | Milvus milvus |
| Summary | Hen harriers are medium sized, ground nesting raptors. They breed in upland areas, including open woodland, forestry and scrub, migrating to lowland and coastal habitats for the winter. Distances vary with most staying within the UK but some reach the continent. They form communal roosts out with the breeding season. | The peregrine falcon suffered from persecution and pesticide poisoning in the early 20th century. Over the last couple of decades they have been doing very well at a UK level. They mainly nest on inland and coastal cliffs in Scotland, though a proportion of the population use man-made structures like buildings and quarries. | A large raptor that nests in trees mostly in small woods or near the edges of larger woods. They are found mostly on lowland or upland edge habitats, although they will visit moorland. They are social birds especially out with the breeding season and form communal roosts which can number scores of birds in Scotland. |
| Diet | They hunt a wide range of small to medium sized birds and mammals. | A wide range of medium sized birds with pigeons important in many areas though ducks, seabirds and waders, and some smaller birds are also taken | They have a varied diet and are an opportunist scavenger, eating both carrion and small mammals, birds and insects. |
| Appearance | Males are a pale grey colour, with black wingtips and a white rump, females and immatures are brown with a white rump and a long, barred tail which give them the name 'ringtail'. | The peregrine is Scotland's biggest falcon; dark grey above with black barred white underparts. It has a white throat and cheeks and a black 'moustache' and mask. | Red kites are large, have largely reddish-brown plumage with a pale whitish head and a deeply forked tail |
| Size | Length: 45-50cm Wingspan: 1-1.2m, Weight: 300-600g | Length: 40-54cm Wingspan: 1m Weight: 670g-1,1kg | Length: 60-66cm, Wingspan; 1.75-1.95m, Weight; 800g-1.3kg |
| Lifespan | Typical lifespan of 7-8 years | Typical lifespan of 7 years | Average 8-10 years (up to 25) |
| Status | Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, and classified in the UK as a Red List species under the Birds of Conservation Concern review. | Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, and classified in the UK as a Green List species under the Birds of Conservation Concern review. | Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, and classified in the UK as a Green List species under the Birds of Conservation Concern review. |
| Distribution | The species is found widely across the country but has breeding concentrations in Orkney, some west coast islands and Argyll mainland. | Can be found throughout Scotland. Generally, the species is more common in the south and east of the country | There are four main population centres based around original reintroductions areas; Black Isle, those in Aberdeenshire, Perthshire/Stirlingshire and Dumfries & Galloway have merged to cover most of that area. |
| Population | The most recent national survey was in 2016 and the population was estimated at 460 pairs, a decrease from 2010. | The most recent national survey was in 2014 and the Scottish population was estimated at 516-538 pairs, a decrease since 2002. | Increasing after successful reintroduction, however the growth of the populations is varied with the North Scotland (Black Isle) one in particular suffering slow growth due to illegal persecution. |
| Monitoring | Up to two-thirds of the breeding population is monitored annually by the Scottish Raptor Study Group. The Heads up for Harrier initiative encourages landowners to participate in a nest camera scheme. There is also annual non-breeding roost monitoring. | Between a half and two-thirds the breeding population is monitored annually under the Scottish Raptor Monitoring Scheme, mainly by Scottish Raptor Study Group members. | There is annual monitoring of a large proportion of the breeding population under the Scottish Raptor Monitoring Scheme, mainly by Scottish Raptor Study Group members and other volunteers. There is also an annual winter roost coordinated count as part of a wider European survey. |
| Threats | Natural mortality includes starvation and disease. Foxes are the main natural predator of nests. The species is at the centre of the raptor game management conflict and regionally, illegal persecution is a significant threat to the species. | Natural mortality can include collisions with power lines, starvation and disease. Illegal persecution from both pigeon fanciers and game management interests remains a regional concern for some inland and upland populations. | Red kites are subject to natural mortality and their scavenging habits can make them vulnerable to collisions with vehicles and power lines. Growth of the North Scotland (Black Isle) population in particular has been hampered by illegal persecution. |
Contact
Email: john.gray@gov.scot
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