There are many birds to be found within the city boundaries of Inverness from the garden birds that readily come to feeders to the various ducks to be seen on the River Ness. More secretive are the various mammals, secretive because they mainly come out at night. There are exceptions such as red squirrels that will feed during the day. However, even red squirrels can be secretive and the reason more are seen these days is because of their increasing habit of coming to bird feeders in gardens such as peanut holders. Roe deer have long been inhabitants within the city in such places as burial grounds and larger gardens particularly on the south side of the area. These small deer also seem to use the banks of the River Ness to move around from one area to another. There also seem to be more records of foxes in the last few years and one or two have met their fate with collisions with vehicles. Brown rats, hedgehogs, vole and mice are also present but again go largely un-noticed.
In the last couple of years there seems to have been a mini invasion in Inverness of pine martens with reports coming in of them being seen at birds feeders and specially designed feeders for red squirrels. Historically pine martens have been coming to rural gardens in various parts of the Highlands for many years . The “old“ way of attracting them to open bird tables was with toast with strawberry jam liberally spread. At one time along the west coast there were even some B @ B places that advertised pine marten viewing in their brochures, such was the attraction. Judging by more recent records, pine martens are now confirmed as regular visitors to local gardens although in some cases there still seems to be some confusion in identifying them.
People have been confusing them with polecats. Polecats used to be quite common in the Highlands before they were relentlessly persecuted. The last confirmed records of them seems to be from the Assynt area in the north west where there were confirmed records in the early 1970s. More recent records could be from an introduction along the south side of Loch Ness a few years ago which does not seemed to have come to anything. Any recent records are likely to be from mixed ferret/polecat crosses which occasionally escape or are released. These are used for hunting out rabbits from their burrows and occasionally one gets records from road casualties. As for pine martens in gardens they just seem have taken advantage of the large amount of feed put out in gardens for birds and latterly for red squirrels and most people have welcomed them. They are very attractive mammals with their rich chocolate brown fur that contrasts with their creamy yellow or whitish, rarely apricot, chest patch. The pine marten in the photograph has been eating oats on a local bird table.
Pine martens are not welcomed by everyone as was found in one city garden where one killed a pet rabbit. They will also, given the chance, take chickens and other domestic birds that are not enclosed securely every night. I have lost chickens and ducks to pine martens but in every case it was my fault through not enclosing the birds properly. They can chew through new rabbit wire netting quite easily and they will get through a gap as small as 50 mm in diameter. Just take a ruler out and look at that measurement! Pine martens are protected by legislation so there is no question of trapping them even if they are simply released elsewhere.