You will probably recognise a badger their black and white-striped faces make them easy to identify, but badgers are nocturnal, so you’d be lucky to see one during the day. However, when you are out and about you might just spot the entrance to their underground network of tunnels and burrows known as ‘setts’ in the shelter of our woodlands. Badgers dig these tunnels out using their claws that are extremely powerful.

To get the energy for all that hard work badgers come out at dusk to look for food in fields and meadows. 80% of a badger’s diet is made up of earthworms - they can eat hundreds of them in a single night! When earthworms aren’t available the badger is not a fussy eater, they are omnivores, which means they will eat both plants and other animals including slugs.

Did you know?

The earliest traces of badgers in Britain have been dated back to three quarters to half a million years ago, meaning badgers once co-existed with wolves, brown bears, arctic foxes and wolverines, all of which once roamed Britain.

Fun fact

The name 'badger' comes from the French word 'bêcheur' meaning 'digger'.

Although you’ll find them difficult to spot, pine martens live right here in Palacerigg. Rarely seen in most parts of Scotland in the 19th Century the pine marten has made a welcome recovery over the years.

Pine martens spend the majority of their time hiding in holes known as dens high up in the trees. In the evenings when it’s dark pine martens venture down out of the trees to look for food. In order to fuel their powerful muscles they eat a wide range of foods including birds, insects, and small mammals such as voles or rabbits. They also like to eat fungi, berries and eggs. 

If you are lucky enough to catch a glimpse of this cat-sized animal, the pine marten’s long body is covered in brown fur except for a patch of yellow fur at the throat. Not only is the pine marten's body covered in fur, but its foot pads are too. This helps with warmth in the winter but also provides extra grip when climbing trees.

Did you know?

While their numbers have increased in Scotland, they're still one of Britain's rarest native mammals. It's estimated that there are only around 3,000 to 4,000 in the UK.

Fun fact

A group of pine martens is called a 'richness'.

If you walk quietly enough through the woods you will have a good chance of spotting a roe deer here at Palacerigg. They are normally found in the woods but will venture out into fields and farmland to feed. You may have spotted them in other greenspace near to where you live, like cemeteries and golf courses.

Take a Roe deer by surprise and all you will see is its white rump flashing as it runs away. They have bright red-brown fur in summer, fading to a duller shade of brown in winter.

Adult males known as bucks have small antlers with up to three points. Female deer are called does and their young are called kids or fawns.

Roe deer like to browse for food and will feed on tree shoots and leaves, herbs, brambles, ivy and other woody plants. 

Did you know?

A male Roe deer will shed and regrow a new set of antlers each year.

Fun fact 

Roe deer have been recorded running at speeds up to 37 miles per hour.

Owls are creatures of the night, making them mysterious and even a little bit mystical. Masters of camouflage you are far more likely to hear an owl calling than actually see one. 

Long-eared owls live in mixed and coniferous woodland and have been spotted here at Palacerigg. They have mottled orange-brown feathers, distinct white eyebrows and striking orange eyes. Their most noticeable feature is large head feathers or ‘ear tufts’(not actually ears), which rise up when the owl is alarmed, giving the appearance of ears.  

The long-eared owl likes to eat small mammals, particularly voles and mice. During the winter when food is scarce, it has been known to eat small birds. When hunting, it sweeps through open country, flying to and from in a zig-zag pattern while scanning the ground for food. 

Did you know? 

Owl feathers have an edge shaped like a comb which helps to funnel the air over their wings. This really dampens the sound of flight, allowing them to fly in near silence.

Fun fact 

A group of owls is called a parliament.