Apart from the tail it sounds like a beaver.

I discounted beaver because there is nothing for a beaver to eat there and I could see the tail quite clearly, it started reasonably close and I stopped and watched it. Never stopped running even when it had distanced me then went up the glen side into where a burn cut the hill with a couple of scrubby trees. It was on the path off Ciste Dubh,lots of water but the main burn is no more than 4 feet at its widest.

I beg to differ on size – I’ve seen a couple of Pine Martin’s that were rather large – one at Carron Valley, one in Glen Clova

Agreed, And while i fully agree they aren’t anywhere even near the size of a badger they are definitely not big enough to fit through a letterbox! And they fall into the “thats a hella big,odd looking animal” category.

They can also appear quite fluffy which makes them look kinda chubby and squat.

Thats my position on the matter. Its a bit of a stretch that it actually is a pine arten though I’ll admit i didn’t really read the OP that thoroughly to start with.

Have a picture of a baby pine marten I found on the internet to show no hard feelings.

They can also appear quite fluffy which makes them look kinda chubby and squat.

Must remember, I am fluffy, not fat….

Ginger/grubby badger.
A ginger one might not be that odd, I once saw a tabby fox and there’s plenty of green pheasants about

https://www.nts.org.uk/stories/wildlife-spotters-guide-kintail

I’m going with harbour porpoise.

@gecko76 Not a sense of?

Not The Badger.

As Haggis has already been suggested then I’ll submit…..

A young Muntjac

/thread

I have seen ginger badgers before. I had a very similar encounter with a badger at about 700m altitude in the bowl at the top of the Allt Ruadh, Glen Feshie, when we disturbed a badger at close range and it bolted, then did not stop. Pretty ungainly in deep heather. The two idiots on mountain bikes weren’t doing any better…

Is the muntjac on it’s holidays in Scotland?

Yes, always got their suitcases ready

https://www.antler.co.uk/

https://www.mammal.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Muntiacus-reevesi_cropped.jpg

If you check this map from the UK mammal org. You’ll see there are indeed reported pockets of muntjac in Scotland……

However, it’s also widely believed amongst certain demographics that this is down to mis-identification, false reporting or even practical jokers dropping off carcasses at roadsides as a bit of a wheeze.

even practical jokers dropping off carcasses at roadsides as a bit of a wheeze.

Some people are right jokers.

Oh how they must have laughed!

Well I saw a muntjac 2 actually on the m6 on Thursday maybe hutch hiking.

Legs too short, I am going with ginger badger as it couldn’t be a wolverine. Just the weirdest thing. I have been mooching about the Highlands and wild camping for a long time and have never seen anything like it.

However, it’s also widely believed amongst certain demographics that this is down to mis-identification, false reporting or even practical jokers dropping off carcasses at roadsides as a bit of a wheeze.

Yeah seems very unlikely that there’d be no sightings until those small pockets, I have heard they’re appearing further north but certainly not Scotland.

Well I saw a muntjac 2 actually on the m6 on Thursday maybe hutch hiking.

Nah, that would be a rabbit, surely?

stretched rabbit?

Lots of flat rabbits on the m6.
The deer where around again today so it’s not those in Scotland.

A young Muntjac

Reported for posting an unsolicited Dik-dik

Aware this is now old but just stopped in at Cross keys in Ettrickbridge and by the first is a stuffed white/ginger badger…
I’m hoping it is stuffed as I’m not planning on sharing any food or drink with it.