CONTENTS
FEATURES
32 NatureonYourDoorstep
Enjoythewinningstoriesfromthe
youthnature-writingcompetitionthat
launchedduringlockdown36 DevonbeaverstostayCOVERSTORY
Findouthowtheseindustriousdam-
buildershavebeenaffectingthe
landscapeoftheirnewhome44 A erlife
Doanimalsgrieve?Aretheirfeelings
similartothoseexperiencedby
humans?Scientistsaredeadseton
findingout50 MountainharesCOVER STORY
We take a look at the history of grouse
moors and their hare inhabitants,
following the Scottish Government’s
ban on unlicensed culling60 Countingchinstraps
JourneytoElephantIslandinthe
Antarctic,wherechinstrappenguins
seemtobeindecline66 Photostory:diveintothedark
Thecuriouscreaturesthat
emergefromthedepthsoftheocean
atnightarerevealedOURWILD
WORLD
86 Athome
NaturalhistoryTV,booksandmore90 Puzzles
92 Yourphotos
94 Feedback
YourlettersandTalesfromtheBushREGULARS
6 Infocus
Honeybeesandhornet,
gemsbok,white-tailedeagle78 Behindtheimage
Heronsmakethemostof
Amsterdam’smarkets80 Q&A
Doanimalsmakeupafter
fights?Whydobatsswarm?
Andhowdomoleswalk?98 Wildlifechampion
WhyFeargalSharkeythinks
browntroutarehardtobeatWILD MONTH
12 Seven species to spot
What to look for in September17 Nick Baker’s hidden Britain
The mysterious moon snail18 Mike Dilger’s wildlife
watching
Heather-clad moorland and the
species that call it home22 News
Why Wild Justice wants to take
Natural England to court26 Truth or ction?
Were European bison once
native to Britain?27 Mark Carwardine
The conservationist discusses
US environmental law28 Meet the scientist
Professor Steve Ormerod on
dippers and microplasticsSeptember 2020 BBC Wildlife 5COVERSTORYCOVERSTORYThepeople
behindourstories
September 2020
ISLAHODGSON
ConservationscientistIslaexamines
thedebateongrousemoorsasnew
protectionformountainharesis
announced:“Thesituationishighly
politicised.Theecologicalandethical
quandariesarealsoentangledwithin
widerculturalconflicts.”SeepSHANEGROSS
Divingintoa worldofstrange
creatures,wildlifephotographerShane
capturedsomeincredibleimagesof
marinelifeatnight.“It’sasif you’re
flyingthroughspace,meetingaliens,”
hesays.SeepSOPHIEPAVELLE
Withbeaversgranteda permanent
homeinDevon,zoologistSophie
looksattheirimpact:“Theprospect
oflargemammalsnotonlyreturning
to,buttransformingmylocalriver,
isbeyondthrilling.” SeepFEARGAL SHARKEY
The former pop singer talks to us
about his love of British rivers and
brown trout: “All populations look
unique. Go three miles upstream
and the trout might have completely
different markings.” See p