Wildcat (Felis silvestris)

The wildcat  is the only native member of the cat family (Felidae) living in Britain today and is Britain's only remaining large wild predator. It is now found only in Scotland with its eradication in England and Wales starting in the mid 19th century mainly due to persecution and habitat loss, such as broadleaf deforestation. An additional threat to the Scottish wildcat has been from interbreeding, resulting in hybrids, with the domestic cat.

Legislation

 The Scottish wildcat is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981(as amended) and is identified as a European Protected Species on the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended). The Scottish wildcat is classified as Vulnerable by the International Union of Conservation of Nature [IUCN] Red List 2000

There are currently no guidelines for surveying or assessing wildcats in the field. However, a series of steps based on 7 years research on wildcats on known sites by Naiad Environmental Consultancy have been devised.