Your Best Ever Wild Summer

Just how many unforgettable UK wildlife experiences can you pack into a season? There’s only one way to find out…

- James Lowen

Grab your binoculars, crabbing net and camera, and get ready to track down some of the country’s most incredible creatures – from the biggest fish in our seas to minuscule moths and nocturnal marvels (and that’s just for starters).

Make the most of August’s distinctly clement temperatures, which provide perfect conditions in which to view a variety of flora and fauna, whether via land, sea or air.

While it’s always a thrill to spot your favourite species, and while some inquisitive individuals may approach you for a closer look, remember to keep your distance, to avoid any disturbance (find out about the code for watching wildlife on page 62) while enjoying the natural world’s summer spectacular.

1 | OTTER

The return of the native

August is prime time to celebrate a comeback kid among Britain’s mammals. Following the 1948 introduction of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) as an agricultural pesticide, otter numbers nosedived. By 1977, just 6 per cent of former territories were occupied. Since DDT was banned in 1984, otter fortunes have gradually revived. By 2010, populations were up 59 per cent on their lowest point. In Scotland, they have returned to 90 per cent of sites occupied in the 1950s.