Wildcat kitten caught on thermal imaging camera

A wildcat kitten and its mum have been caught on a thermal imaging camera.

Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) are using the technology to find the well-camouflaged animals in the wild.

Once located, the camera can switch to a zoomed-in setting to get a close image of the wildcats.

It is usually used to help survey deer populations in the Angus Glens but this trial managed to catch one wildcat and her kitten hunting in the area.

The videos, thought to be innovative in wildcat research, were caught by contractors Ben and Katie Harrower, who run BH Wildlife Consultancy.

Gareth Ventress, FLS Environment Forester, said: “We have been working with Ben and Katie for about three years on deer surveys and the results have been phenomenally successful in helping us to refine our deer management work.

“Following this success we started looking at other applications for the technology, thinking that it might have potential in searching for protected species in complex habitats.

“We asked more in hope than in expectation but Ben was up for the challenge and came up with some great footage.”

Definitive wildcat identification can be complicated because wildcats have a significant history of interbreeding with domestic cats.

Identification is only possible through a combination of genetic and pelage scoring, which is related to their external appearance.

The high quality images obtained via the drone allow experts to assess the visual clues and pelage scoring to make an educated assessment as to whether the cats are likely wildcats, hybrids or feral cats.