![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lostspeciesday.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/wild-cat-sighting.jpg?resize=620%2C477&ssl=1\")
The last Scottish Wildcat is about to be exterminated \u2013 because developers are chasing windfarm subsidies.<\/p>\nThe last Scottish Wildcat is about to be exterminated \u2013 because developers are chasing windfarm subsidies.<\/p>\n
This week The Herald carried a story about the wildcat queen that lives on the hillside opposite my cottage, where I am a shepherd.\u00a0 She has already been ousted from the den where she reared a kitten two seasons ago, when quarry was excavated to create hard-standing for a single wind turbine.\u00a0 Scottish Natural Heritage did not come out of that smelling of roses, as the developers flouted recommendations for wildcat protection on a number of occasions, and the response was along the lines of \u2018O dear, perhaps we should have given our advice earlier, but now we\u2019ve left it too long and it\u2019s too late \u2013 the wildcat won\u2019t be around now so we\u2019ll not do anything about it.\u2019\u00a0 There was no \u2018policing\u2019 and penalty or even warning was issued to the landowner.<\/p>\n
This time, there are seven turbines to be erected on the adjacent slope \u2013 where we have captured the same queen on night camera.\u00a0 And Scottish Natural Heritage has omitted its previous advice to \u2018avoid activity during the breeding season, March \u2013 August inclusive.\u2019 However, Scottish Wildlife Trust HAS asked Perth and Kinross Council to impose this condition. \u00a0But so far, there has been no response.<\/p>\n
We are petitioning Perth and Kinross Council to include this protective condition.\u00a0 One breeding season for one female could be the writing on the tombstone for the species, felis sylvestris sylvestris.<\/p>\n
Scottish Natural Heritage is playing the popularity game with the developers, and saying that wind farms won\u2019t destroy too much habitat (though earlier I have them on record as saying they don\u2019t know enough about HOW much habitat a wildcat does require ). They are concentrating on cross-breeding with feral cats as being the biggest threat to the species.\u00a0 When, however, there is evidence of an apparently \u2018pure\u2019 wild cat on our hill, shouldn\u2019t they be doing all they can to protect her, on all fronts?<\/p>\n
It may come to camping out in front of the diggers… Is anyone going to join me?\u00a0 Or at least bring me a flask of tea?\u00a0 I\u2019ve never done anything like this \u2013 so please advise me or support me. Please, if you have not already done so, would you sign the petition to Perth and Kinross Council?\u00a0 It can be found by using the link below.<\/p>\n
http:\/\/you.38degrees.org.uk\/petitions\/protect-scottish-wildcat-from-industrial-activity<\/a><\/p>\n Helen Douglas (- I cannot check email regularly while I am lambing sheep in a remote area during May \u2013 but would appreciate help\/advice and will reply when I do have internet access!)\u00a0puffball@tiscali.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n