The Island of Jura is a place of wild natural beauty. Many unique plants, insects, birds and animal species thrive in the diverse range of habitats. From the scree covered Paps (the name given to the three conical mountains) to the heather and blaeberry hillsides. Around the many lochans (lakes), through the grass and bog myrtle moorland which adjoins the few small natural woodlands and farmland. Along the rugged coastline with the famous raised beaches, historic caves, crumbling cliffs and long stretches of sand to the blue-green sea. These surroundings provide a fascinating range of plant life, which give shelter and food for the many insects and birds as well as the mammals, which you may see, on this web page or on your visit to Jura.
Information on this island's Natural History will be added to this site on a monthly basis. Much of this content will come from a book on Jura, which is to be published in the near future.
Stoat
The Jura Stoat or Ermine is thought to be a subspecies of the mainland form. These hunters, which turn white in winter, used to be trapped heavily for their pelts but this no longer occurs. They can be seen near old walls, in woodland and farmland. Food consists of rabbits, voles, shrews, mice, small and young birds plus eggs and the occasional hare. The main predators are eagles, buzzards, hawks, owls, dogs and possibly mink. If cornered stoats will give off a strong musky rather unpleasant smell.
Adders
If you walk in the hills in summer time you may be lucky enough (or unlucky!) to see an adder. Scotland's only poisonous snake can be encountered anywhere on the island as it basks in the sun. It has a distinctive diamond pattern on its back, which distinguishes it from slow worms. There are a few accounts of people being bitten by adders on Jura. Generally the biggest danger from a bite is infection in the puncture wound. Dogs however have on occasion died from viper bites. The main diet consists of voles, shrews, mice, frogs, lizards and small birds. Apart from man the main threat on the island is from birds such as Harriers and Buzzards.
Seals
Red Deer
Jura, which is famous for it’s stock of 5,500 Red Deer, is a haven for sportsmen, wildlife photographers and natural history documentaries. Jura deer are well know for their great body weights which range from 14 (89kgs) to a massive 26 stones (165kgs) for stags (males). Females, which are called hinds, range from 7 (44kgs) to 11 stones (70kgs). Stags are identified from hinds, as they are the ones with antlers. On Jura these have a wide and even shape, with dark colouring with some animals achieving 14 points or tines. During the mating season or ‘rut’ in September and October they make the most use of their antlers, warding of competitors for the female harem.
Red stag behind Feolin Ferry
House in September of 2004.
Despite their long slender legs (compared to body size) deer are fast runners and excellent swimmers. Indeed they are frequently seen swimming through the strong currents to the neighbouring Island of Islay. Hill deer are usually old by nine to eleven years but at the extreme they may live up to twenty. The diet is varied including grass, heather, young tree shoots, leaves, bark, moss, lichen and fruit. They will also “steal” root crops, flowers and vegetables from gardens and farms. On Jura a great source of winter feed is seaweed. One of the easiest periods to see them is in the winter evenings when they come down on to the shore to feed.
Some historians claim that the name, Jura, is derived from the Norse word for deer. We do not know if this is true but it is unlikely that there were so many deer at that period of time. Research shows that Jura was quite well covered with trees along the coast and had a fairly high human population. Neither of these is compatible with high numbers of deer. What is true is that the island owes a lot of its financial income to these animals. See further information in the industry section.