How can I watch wildlife responsibly?

Why is this an issue? 

Causing a bird to fly away may not seem like anything to worry about but, in trying to escape from you, the bird is using valuable energy and could get injured. It may also abandon a nest or young. Although you may feel that your actions have little impact, others may have been in the same area before you. The repeated disturbance causes unnecessary stress, particularly during the breeding season for that species or during cold weather.

Getting too close to wildlife when exploring the outdoors can also put yourself and those around you at risk, as some animals may become aggressive when they feel threatened. For example, allowing a dog to run up to seals resting on the shore may result in the dog getting bitten and you getting hurt if you try to intervene.

It is also important to remember that some irresponsible behaviours towards wildlife may be a criminal offence.

Most wildlife disturbance happens by accident when we are exploring outdoors. The good news is that we can all do our bit to prevent it by following the tips below and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

• As soon as you see wildlife, assess the situation. What are the animals doing? Where are they going? How can I avoid disturbing them?

• Always watch wildlife from a respectful distance and learn to spot the signs of disturbance (such as “heads up” responses, alarm calls, sudden movements or aggressive behaviour) so you know when your presence has a negative impact. Be prepared to move away when you see these behaviours.

• If you are passing close to wildlife, do so slowly and cautiously. Make sure that your movements are steady and predictable, and do not approach directly.

• Move away from wildlife as quietly and carefully as possible – your exit should be as careful as your approach.

• Even a well-trained dog can frighten wildlife by being curious when exploring. So, it’s safest to keep your four-legged friend in sight (so you can see what it is doing) - or on a lead - when you’re unsure if there are animals nearby. For example, you may not see deer hidden in woodland or hares hunkered down in fields, but your dog will be able to smell them.

  • It is particularly important to keep your dog close to you when ground-nesting birds are breeding and rearing their young – usually from April to July – in areas like moorland, forests, grassland, loch shores and the seashore.

  • Allowing your dog to chase wildlife may seem harmless, but it causes immense stress to the animal and could result in an accident, such as if a deer runs onto a nearby road to escape. 

• Use paths wherever possible - to prevent damage in more sensitive natural habitats and to avoid disturbing animals and nests hidden in long grass or camouflaged on the forest floor.

• When doing water-based activities, take care when entering and leaving the water and avoid any no-paddle zones to help protect birds that nest near the waters edge. Take extra care if you are passing by or landing on an island, as these can often be a good refuge for wildlife.

• Follow any locally available advice or signage about avoiding disturbance to wildlife. You may also find information on how to spot more elusive species on these signs, so it’s always worth pausing to read them.

• Take litter away with you to prevent it from injuring wildlife.  

There are also various guides to help you avoid disturbing wildlife, depending on the activity you are taking part in;

There are some body language cues that can let you know if you are at risk of disturbing seals. They have a three-stage response to perceived threats:

• heads-up – the seals raise their heads and watch your location and approach. If you see this behaviour, you should back away and/or change your method and speed of approach.

• movement – the seals will start to shift around and appear agitated. If they were laying on their sides they may move to their stomachs to allow them to retreat. If you notice this behaviour you need to back off from the seals so you do not cause the third stage of the response.

• stampede – the seals will quickly retreat from land to the water to escape. This puts the seals at risk of injury as well as any pups that are amongst them.

The Scottish Marine Wildlife Watching Code (SMWWC) provides recommendations and advice on responsible wildlife watching. Some helpful tips include:

• look up the site you intend visiting for any local wildlife management information and follow their guidance

• be aware of the local pupping seasons – avoid visiting breeding sites during these periods

  • Harbour seals usually give birth in early summer (June – July) and spend time ashore in August for their annual moult.

  • Grey seals give birth in the autumn (September – December) and stay on land for several weeks. Adults and pups leave in the spring once they have finished their moult and the pups have been weaned.

• keep your distance and keep dogs away as they can cause a stampede response

• do not try to touch or feed seals, they can move surprisingly fast and as cute as they may appear they are predators and are known to bite

• never separate pups from mothers as this leads to stress for both and risks abandonment by the mother

• leave lone pups alone – the mother may only be foraging for food

• don’t crowd or encircle seals and do not stand between them and an escape route to the water

• keep the noise down and avoid sudden movements

If you're around Shetland (or anywhere along Scotland's coasts) and think you have seen someone committing a wildlife crime, contact the police. Disturbance is illegal and reporting it to the police will help them to raise awareness and, where necessary, take action to protect marine mammals. You can do this by dialling 101 or 999 in an emergency. Alternatively, you can report non-urgent incidents via the online Police Scotland form.