Voles counted to protect one of Scotland’s most endangered birds

Voles are being counted in the Cairngorms to help protect one of Scotland's most endangered species.

The tiny mammals are an important food source for predators such as foxes and pine martens.

But when vole numbers are low, rare species such as capercaillie become targets for food.

Researchers from Forestry and Land Scotland are trapping voles to establish whether they need to provide extra food for the predators.

  • Subsection
  • Published