Animals in Scotland

At the time of the ice-age, c.10,000 BC, reindeer, giant deer, saiga antelope, wild horses and musk ox could be found grazing on the lichen, mosses, fine grass and sedges as well as dwarf birch and willow. Their predators were the white wolf and polar bears, while arctic foxes and hares, lemmings and snowy owls were also common.

After the ice-age, as the ice retreated, the musk ox and polar bear moved north, the saiga headed east, while the arctic hare and ptarmigan could be found on the mountains. Reindeer and wild horses were joined by the elk; in the valleys and low ground forests of birch, aspen and pine, with a shrub layer of juniper were common. Man also arrived at this time.

A further, brief period of ice followed c.8,000 BC and the forests retreated, but soon returned, made up mainly of oak, ash, lime, alder and elm - pine and birch survived in the poorer soils. The shrub layer was now mainly hazel, hawthorn, wild raspberries and holly. Grazing animals were the woodland bison, wide horned elk, aurochs (wild cattle), red and roe deer. Predators were lynx, wolves and brown bears. There were also wild boars, badgers, pine martins, polecats, red squirrels, beavers and otters; red kites, buzzards, eagles, goshawks and sparrow hawks soared through the skies.

As the sea levels rose Britain became an island, c.6,000 BC, with new settlers bringing the plough and domestic animals - cheviot and blackface sheep were introduced. The climate became wetter and colder and the forests were cleared. Over time the wolves, aurochs, lynx and brown bears were killed; the beaver was hunted to extinction.

The wild boar was domesticated and, in the 19th century, superseded by the modern pig.

Salmon are fished for food, export and sport. The Wild Atlantic Salmon returns to spawn - most notably on the Rivers Dee, Tay, Tweed and Spey.

As with other countries Scotland also has its share of mythical creatures.

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