Where The Wild Things Are

Wildlife, it's everywhere and it is my very favourite thing about living in such a beautiful place, we are lucky enough to share it with a wide range of wildlife.

First things, first, be prepared, as glorious as it is, there are things that would quite happily eat you.

If you are spending time in an area with heather, bracken and long grasses, especially if the area is visited by Deer or Sheep (almost certainly here), chances are you and your dogs will be at risk from ticks.

Wear protective clothing, long boots or gaiters and do check yourself over after spending any amount of time out there.

Ticks can be dangerous, they can carry Lyme’s disease, but the risk is minimised by removing the tick cleanly and as soon as possible.
I spend so much time outside with my dogs it has become a part of the daily routine to check them all over and quickly remove the little beastie!

They are reddish, brown or grey and can be various sizes, I've found tiny ones, smaller than a pin head, and even worse, I've found large ones like big grey peas on my poor dogs!

The very best, quickest, cleanest and easiest way to remove them from people and pets is with these O'Tom Tick Twister  

Always keep some in your rucksack!

If you become unwell within around 30 days after finding a tick on you, you must let your doctor know, the sooner you are treated for Lymes disease the better chance you have of being successfully treated.

As gross as they are, generally their bite doesn't hurt, nor does it hurt to remove them, but do ensure you keep an eye on the bite area on you or your pet to help prevent the risk of infection.

The midges, the midges,

I'm no gonnae kid ye's,

the midges is really the limit.

Wi teeth like piranhas, they drive ye bananas,

If ye let them get under yer simmit!

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Midges bites hurt! You can feel them, it amazes me how they are so tiny, with such delicately patterned wings they look so harmless but can be so annoying, their mouths feel like a mini circular saw!!

Don't let them ruin your trip!

One of my dogs collecting critters!

I know we are going to have beautiful weather if I open the door to let the dogs out in the morning and there are a swarm of midges waiting to eat me.

Get to know them so they don't ruin your visit.

There are untold products out there to protect you from insect bites, however the best we have found is Avon Skin So Soft dry oil spray.

If you don't have any, you might be lucky and Karlina might have her usual reserves in stock.

If it's windy, or raining, chances are you wont be bothered by these little beasts, they tend to hang around dawn and dusk in sheltered places.

I have heard (but not yet tried) a yeast trap, apparently if you put some yeast and warm water in a jar the midges are attracted to the carbon dioxide and will drown in the jar.

You can keep track of the Local Midge Forecast Here!

Midges are also a food source for many other beauties, so while they may be a minor irritation for us they are well worth tolerating for the sake of the bats, birds and other animals that need them in their daily diet