Fauna of the Hebrides

Fauna of the Hebrides

Compared to mainland Scotland, there are few naturally established animals on the Western Isles. Those that do exist naturally are: the otter, the pygmy shrew, the field mouse, the house mouse and the brown rat. Lately, the hedgehog has been introduced into Uist and the Stornoway area. Unfortunately, the mink and polecat have also been introduced, greatly reducing the numbers of small animals and ground-nesting birds. Rabbits, although not native, are here in abundance, as are both brown and mountain hares. Red deer also live in the more remote moorlands, introduced for shooting and for meat. One of the most noticable animals that inhabit the islands are the traditional black-faced sheep. For many centuries, these creatures have provided meat for food, and wool for making the world-renowned Harris tweed, although today they play a less and less important part in the islands' economy.

The seas around the Western Isles provide an excellent habitat for many marine-dwelling mammals, including grey and common seals, pilot, minke and killer whales. White-beaked and Risso's dolphins, and porpoises, are also a common sight.

The most common animals are the insects, and they ALL seem to bite.. the most annoying of these are the midges (small, many, itchy bites) and the clegs (large, few, painful bites). Be here before July to escape the brunt of the attack, as they exist in clouds, and do not die until the first frosts in September or October. Nothing less than mosquito coils work against these fiends, you have been warned....

See also: Flora of the Western Isles