NatureScot

Basking sharks can be seen off Scotland's west coast between May to October as they breed

Highlands & Islands

Sightings of basking sharks at 20-year low in Scotland while minke whale numbers soar

Former head of The Assynt Foundation Alastair McAskill in Glencanisp, Lochinver

Former head of The Assynt Foundation Alastair McAskill in Glencanisp, Lochinver

2

Deals give fresh life to struggling Highland estate buyout

The Rum Cuillins have been named among the new list of 100 geological wonders around the world

The Rum Cuillins have been named among the new list of 100 geological wonders around the world

1

Global experts name three Scottish sites on list of 100 geological wonders

The Flow Country was granted Unesco World Heritage Site status last month

The Flow Country was granted Unesco World Heritage Site status last month

6

UK arms firm scraps plan to test bombs at Scottish World Heritage Site

Thomas Hanlan was fishing on the island of Inchtavannach in Loch Lomond on Monday afternoon when he found an eight-foot snake skin in the water

Thomas Hanlan was fishing on the island of Inchtavannach in Loch Lomond on Monday afternoon when he found an eight-foot snake skin in the water

Scottish national park issues warning over potential 'escaped' eight-foot snake

Since 2021 Scottish Government policy has been to encourage the release of beavers all over the country

Since 2021 Scottish Government policy has been to encourage the release of beavers all over the country

2

Scottish Government agency pushes ahead with controversial beaver release plans

A beaver kit has been born in the Cairngorms for the first time in 400 years

A beaver kit has been born in the Cairngorms for the first time in 400 years

3

Baby beavers born wild in Cairngorms for first time in 400 years

Members celebrate following the launch of the Nevis Nature Network

Members celebrate following the launch of the Nevis Nature Network

Scotland's highest mountain set for major nature restoration project

Two red kites have been found either poisoned or shot on the estate in the past five years

Two red kites have been found either poisoned or shot on the estate in the past five years

1

Scottish estate's licences suspended after police find evidence of bird poisoning

The white-tailed sea eagle is a protected species but has plagued the rural Scottish farming community

The white-tailed sea eagle is a protected species but has plagued the rural Scottish farming community

2

Scottish farmers to get government funding to combat sea eagle attacks

There are calls to cull wild boar populations near Loch Ness

There are calls to cull wild boar populations near Loch Ness

'We don't need hysteria': Call for 'perspective' as fears of wild boar grow

International Women's Day 2024

1

Women lead Scotland’s environmental agencies and decisions in government

More than 5000 stoats have been killed in Orkney since the project started in 2019

More than 5000 stoats have been killed in Orkney since the project started in 2019

3

'A huge undertaking': Scottish islands battle to eradicate invasive stoats

Two pairs of Mediterranean gulls bred in Scotland this year

Two pairs of Mediterranean gulls bred in Scotland this year

Tragedy for chicks of rare bird breeding in Scotland for first time

There is particular concern for Scotland's internationally important seabird populations

There is particular concern for Scotland's internationally important seabird populations

One in nine species in Scotland threatened with national extinction, report finds

2

Row breaks out over nature agency plans to sell off ‘wonderful asset’

Scotland’s national athletics body called for an urgent review of fees

Scotland’s national athletics body called for an urgent review of fees

Ministers urged to act to protect land access by running event organisers

A third of Scotland's hedgehogs have disappeared over the last ten years

A third of Scotland's hedgehogs have disappeared over the last ten years

2

'Big changes needed' to halt nature loss in Scotland, report finds

The slalom course at Grandtully rapids has lost its lease after the appearance of man-made barriers in the River Tay

The slalom course at Grandtully rapids has lost its lease after the appearance of man-made barriers in the River Tay

8

Anger as 'unauthorised obstructions' built in Scottish conservation area

Scottish wildcats are critically endangered due to 'human activity'

Scottish wildcats are critically endangered due to 'human activity'

2

More than 20 Scottish wildcats released in historic first for conservation project

The Scottish Government refused planning permission for a golf course to be developed at Coul Links in 2020

The Scottish Government refused planning permission for a golf course to be developed at Coul Links in 2020

Highland Council

'Unacceptable' plans for Coul Links golf course criticised by nature agency

NatureScot says that a

NatureScot says that a

Wildcat population too small to sustain itself without reintroduction, report finds

An x-ray of Fig the beaver after he was shot in the mouth during a botched attempt at lethal control

An x-ray of Fig the beaver after he was shot in the mouth during a botched attempt at lethal control

6

We need to know what's happening to beavers being shot in Scotland

Barnacle geese have been hit hard by the latest wave of the avian flu virus

Barnacle geese have been hit hard by the latest wave of the avian flu virus

Bird flu threatens 'very survival' of some species in Scotland, say experts

Critically-endangered freshwater pearl mussels have been found in the River Kerry in the west Highlands

Critically-endangered freshwater pearl mussels have been found in the River Kerry in the west Highlands

Critically-endangered pearl mussels discovered in Scottish lochs for first time

A family of beavers have been successfully relocated to Loch Lomond

A family of beavers have been successfully relocated to Loch Lomond

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs

Family of beavers successfully relocated to Loch Lomond

The Assynt Crofters Trust has threatened a community buyout of land owned by conservation charity the John Muir Trust

The Assynt Crofters Trust has threatened a community buyout of land owned by conservation charity the John Muir Trust

18

Crofters threaten hostile ‘takeover’ of charity-owned land due to deer cull

Red deer in Glen Etive

Red deer in Glen Etive

2

Charity defends itself against allegations of ‘gratuitous’ killing of deer

NatureScot said it was monitoring the situation closely after avian flu was detected in barnacle geese on Islay

NatureScot said it was monitoring the situation closely after avian flu was detected in barnacle geese on Islay

Bird flu detected among Islay's significant geese population

Roddy Maclean has compiled a Gaelic compendium to celebrate the winter solstice

Roddy Maclean has compiled a Gaelic compendium to celebrate the winter solstice

Acclaimed writer creates compendium of Gaelic words to celebrate winter solstice

Conservationists are using inexpensive hidden cameras to monitor the capercaillie population without disturbing the endangered birds

Conservationists are using inexpensive hidden cameras to monitor the capercaillie population without disturbing the endangered birds

Inexpensive hidden cameras could help save Scotland's capercaillie

The beavers are set to be relocated from a site in Tayside

The beavers are set to be relocated from a site in Tayside

Beavers to return to Loch Lomond for first time in centuries

At risk capercaillie populations may benefit from the Scottish Government's new biodiversity strategy

At risk capercaillie populations may benefit from the Scottish Government's new biodiversity strategy

1

Scottish Government announces new measures to tackle biodiversity crisis

Russian-born vodka tycoon Yuri Shefler, below, paid £25m for Tulchan Estate in 2017

Russian-born vodka tycoon Yuri Shefler, below, paid £25m for Tulchan Estate in 2017

1

Russian billionaire's estate receives over £120k of public money to restore peatland

Gleann Mor on St Kilda

Gleann Mor on St Kilda

Ministry of Defence (MoD)

3

St Kilda to be opened up to more visitors as part of 10-year conservation plan

It is estimated that only 542 capercaillies are left in Scotland

It is estimated that only 542 capercaillies are left in Scotland

4

Gamekeepers blame conservationists for capercaillie decline and call for lethal control of foxes

There are fears a prolonged outbreak of avian flu could seriously impact on the species numbers

There are fears a prolonged outbreak of avian flu could seriously impact on the species numbers

1

Fears for Scotland's largest bird of prey as dead eagle chick tests positive for avian flu

NatureScot highlights deer-stalking caution as hillwalking season arrives

NatureScot highlights deer-stalking caution as hillwalking season arrives

5

Scottish hillwalkers urged not to disturb deer stalking