Local Wildlife
Although Edinvillie is predominantly agricultural, there remain large areas of land which are completely wild and provide a vital space
for all manner of species.
Red Deer and Roe Deer are an everyday sight. Foxes, Pine Marten, Mink and the occasional very rare Wildcat can also be found, although the Wildcat is more often heard than seen.
There was an initiative launched in May 2011 to remove breeding American Mink from Northern Scotland aiming to protect native wildlife, such as water voles, ground nesting birds and economically important populations of salmon and game birds, to help protect local economic stability for the benefit of local communities, the initiative signals a £920,000 investment in native wildlife conservation, thanks to support from Cairngorms National Park Authority, Highland, Moray, Rural Aberdeenshire and Rural Tayside LEADER 2003 - 2007 Programmes and SNH through the Species Action Framework.
Pine Marten habitats are usually well-wooded areas and they usually make their own dens in hollow trees or scrub-covered fields. Martens are the only mustelids with semi-retractable claws. This enables them to lead more arboreal lifestyles, such as climbing or running on tree branches, although they are also relatively quick runners on the ground. They are mainly active at night and dusk. If you are incredibly lucky you can see Pine Martens in the woodland on the Conval hills but they are elusive and very difficult to find.
Ben Rinnes is home to a small colony of Ptarmigan, who can occasionally be seen gliding across the face of the Ben like a pale shadow, the ever scarce Mountain Hare also makes its' home here.
Buzzards, Sparrowhawks and Kestrels are ever
present and sometimes a Peregrine Falcon, a Merlin or even a spectacular Golden Eagle soaring over the Ben on a visit from the nearby
Cairngorms grace the skies above this tranquil Moray hamlet.
Both Black & Red Grouse can be found & indeed heard on the Beatshach along with Short-eared Owls swooping along, silently hunting during the hours of dusk.
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The Beatshach is the breeding ground of the Curlew, who can be heard with their loud, bubbly song during their display flights.
Pheasants are also a common sight and sound and the Greater Spotted Woodpecker can be seen regularly, sometimes hanging on to wild bird feeders in gardens.
The otter, part of the same family as badgers, weasels, stoats, pine marten and mink,(Mustelidae),
has also been seen in the area but you have to be incredibly stealthy to get anywhere near these shy creatures. Another threatened species but on the increase in some areas.
The red squirrel is found in both coniferous
forest and temperate broadleaf woodlands. The squirrel makes a drey (nest) out of twigs in a branch-fork, forming a domed structure about
25 to 30 cm in diameter. This is lined with moss, leaves, grass and bark. Tree hollows and woodpecker holes are also used. The red squirrel
is a solitary animal and is shy and reluctant to share food with others. However, outside the breeding season and particularly in winter,
several red squirrels may share a drey to keep warm. Although not thought to be under any threat worldwide, the red squirrel has drastically
reduced in number in the United Kingdom. Fewer than 140,000 individuals are thought to be left,approximately 85% of which are in Scotland.
This population decrease is often ascribed to the introduction of the eastern grey squirrel from North America, but the loss and fragmentation
of its native woodland habitat has also played a major role.
