Ranger’s Review by Gareth Kett
What a refreshing change it’s been to have some real winter weather. The landscape, always beautiful, has been breath-taking shrouded in snow, and now with the snow melting away I feel a twinge of sadness. Yet it must be a relief for most, although not all, of our wildlife. While we can put on some extra layers of clothing and turn up the radiators, our wildlife has to find a way to survive. A covering of snow makes food much harder to find for most wild animals, although it provides a concealing, insulating layer for voles, who can feed on vegetation beneath Red deer can be hard hit by winter the snow in relative safety, out of sight of predators. Only relative safety though… recent studies from the Czech Republic have suggested that foxes, as well as having predators (wolves, bears, lynxes) they outstanding hearing, also use the earth’s occur in numbers above the ecological magnetic field during hunting, allowing carrying capacity and fencing often them to use triangulation to locate small excludes them the shelter of woodlands, mammals hidden beneath snow. Having leading to starvation (2). Numbers of detected a target they pounce with all species are at an annual low by the remarkable success – but only if they end of February or March, but those pounce along the right axis. Pouncing to that survive have the chance to breed, the north-east, they kill on 73% of their passing on their genes, and to benefit attacks; if they pounce in the opposite from spring’s food bounty. direction, the success rate is 60%. In Any food that you put out in the all other directions, only 18% of their garden such as a wide range of seeds, fat-balls, mealworms, peanuts, cheese, pounces are successful (1). Fluctuations in temperature can be breadcrumbs and fruit can literally be bad news for plants. In early January, the difference between life and death fooled by the unseasonally mild weather, for wild animals using your garden. You bulbs began putting out shoots. The may even get more unusual visitors subsequent frost may have damaged to the garden such as great-spotted their tissues making photosynthesis woodpeckers and bramblings. difficult leading to stunted growth. The In addition to freezing weather snow however will have done them no conditions, traffic poses a constant threat to our wildlife. Following the harm. Animals need more energy just to recent deaths of a couple of otters (and keep warm during cold periods, but frost a number of near misses) on the A817 and snow make finding food difficult. near Lix Toll, back in November local This forces them to take more chances environmental group Environmental in order to find food. They may become Action Killin instigated a project to bolder, venturing closer to people install reflectors mounted on bollards because of our tendency to throw away to deter animals from attempting to food. Nocturnal animals may search for cross the road. The reflectors deflect food during daylight hours if night-time light away from the road towards any foraging is proving unfruitful; and where approaching animals, dissuading them small animals go, predators follow. from crossing. The Ranger Service So a hard winter can provide good supported the project, teaming up with opportunities for wildlife-watching. The Killin Nursery and Primary School to likes of buzzards, sparrowhawks, foxes, raise awareness of otter conservation weasels and stoats can be easier to see issues and running an otter drawing than in milder periods. And of course, competition for the children as part of a fundraising event for the project. The tracks in the snow can give them away. Many animals will not survive. The Scottish Wildlife Trust Callander branch weak, too young, too old, sick and purchased the reflectors and Robertsons unfortunate will perish, but in doing Acharn Biomass Plant and HBS Traffic so will provide food for others. Winter Management put in the stakes, posts is nature’s way of ensuring that the and reflectors free of charge. Other gene-pool remains strong. Red deer can partners involved in the project were be particularly hard hit by prolonged Stirling Council, Killin and Ardeonaig harsh weather. In the absence of top Community Trust and the International 20
Installing reflectors on the A817
Otter Survival Fund. So far, since the installation of the reflectors there have been no reports of any accidents involving animals along the stretch. Many thanks for all your reports of wildlife sightings. As usual if you have anything you wish to discuss or any wildlife sightings to report you are welcome to drop into the Lochearnhead Office, or you can contact me by email at gareth.kett@lochlomond-trossachs.org, or call me on 01389 722044. If I’m not in the office please leave a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. References: 1. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/ notrocketscience/2011/01/11/foxes-usethe-earths-magnetic-field-as-a-targetingsystem/#.WmYe4stLFpg2/. Paine, R.T. (1995). “A Conversation on Refining the Concept of Keystone Species”. Conservation Biology. 9 (4): 962–964. 2. Clutton-Brock, T. & McIntyre, N, (1999), Red Deer, Colin Baxter Photography Ltd., Grantown-on-Spey