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January 2025 Evening Wildlife Watching Hide Update

Writer's picture: Harris BrookerHarris Brooker

Winter can be a quiet time for our Evening Wildlife Watching Hide. The extreme cold can force the Badgers to stay in their setts and sleep in, but they still visit, along with the Pine Martens and the Scottish Wildcat. Wood Mice are also occasionally seen, but again the cold can keep them underground and in their burrows... As with previous winters, January 2025 has brought with it temperatures as low as -18oc and severe weather warnings of wind and snow – so it is not surprising it can be quiet at the hide!


Badgers

Most of the Badgers have been sleeping through the recent cold and windy spells, though some individuals have braved the cold in order to visit. One night, I sat in the hide and at about 20:40 a large male Badger came in and fed for several minutes. Then it was away. As the year progresses and the temperatures warm up we expect that more of the family will be active and they’ll be feeding together and produce more cubs, to add to the one that was born last year.


In this image there is a Badger licking peanut butter from a log.
Badger (Photo Credit: Harris Brooker)

In this image there is a Badger licking peanut butter from a log.
Badger (Photo Credit: Harris Brooker)


Pine Martens

One night I was walking back and forth along the hide, in the way that I do when checking if anything is approaching and in the tree next to the platform, I saw the resident male leaping up from below and settling on the platform to feed. I was relieved to see him because it tells me that he was still visiting and that the animals in general are still visiting.


On another night the male Pine Marten kit born in 2024 came to visit. Of course, by now it’s fully grown and will likely be able to reproduce later in the year – we may see more kits this season!


In this image there is a Pine Marten feeding on a platform.
Pine Marten (Photo Credit: Harris Brooker)

In this image there is a Pine Marten feeding on a platform.
Pine Marten (Photo Credit: Harris Brooker)

Other Wildlife

The Scottish Wildcat is still present and we see it periodically. The better time of year to see him has been in the summer and autumn months - there’s still enough light early on in the evening for it to feel comfortable, as he wanders through the hide area before any Badgers come. 28 Scottish Wildcats have been released since 2023 and hopefully more will be released or breed in the wild, as they did in 2024.


Wood Mice can still occasionally be seen, but usually only the feet protruding from a crack in the wall of the platform or a nose. One night I was sitting in the hide and for the first few hours nothing happened, then after a while I saw the face of a Wood Mouse poking out from the wooden wall of the platform, but it didn’t come out. It just sat there sniffing the air.


If you would like a chance to see our nocturnal visitors go to: http://bit.ly/sw_EWW to book your place.

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