Red Squirrel

I’ve seen red squirrels before; in wildlife centres, and lots of times in Germany, but I’ve yet to see one in the wild in the UK, and they’re at the top of my list. In North Lancashire, we tend to get only grey squirrels and whilst I do think they’re very cute (especially when they’re picking the sunflower seeds out of my dad’s leftover bread in the garden), they’re not the squirrels of Beatrix Potter’s tales that I grew up with. The greys would be a problem if we also had red squirrels around here, as they carry a disease that is deadly to the reds but doesn’t affect the greys at all. There are enclaves of red squirrels in Northern England, and they can be seen (if you’re lucky and patient) in places in the Lake District, Northumberland, County Durham, and perhaps some places in North Yorkshire.

Badger

I’ve never seen a badger, except on television, and I’d love to see one. I’ve been told the best way is to find an old, large tree, with tell-tale deep dug holes underneath and between the roots and wait for dusk!

Otter

To see otters gambolling about in a lake or a river would be wonderful. Watching videos of them has already made me fall in love with these creatures. I might be in with luck sometime soon, as otters have recently been seen in Lancaster Canal and in the lake on Lancaster University campus. I’ll have to go walking down there in the evening and hopefully I’ll be able to spot them.

Fox

I saw fox cubs in a garden in Hackney of all places, and I thought it was magical. I was staying at an Air BnB for my friend’s wedding, and in the late afternoon four fox cubs burst into the garden and starting playing and leaping around. It was beautiful to see. I know urban foxes are generally considered to be pests, but to see this nature in such an urban place was really special. I wasn’t so delighted at 5am the following morning when the adult foxes began screaming at each other (and it genuinely sounds like screaming).

Puffin

I actually got a chance to see these wonderful birds on my boat trip to the Farne Islands (read about that trip here). I’ve left them on this list though as they were there for so long and still deserve a mention! I’ll definitely be going back on another trip out to the islands to see them again. One of the things I didn’t realise is how small they are?!

I love being out in nature and wandering in the wild, so hopefully I’ll get to see some of these soon!