The last wolf in Scotland

[sftr]

I was reading earlier that the last wolf in Perthshire was killed by Cameron of Lochiel at Killiecrankie in 1680. This is reported on Electric Scotland as

the last wolf known to have existed wild in Great Britain

which is taken from The Scottish Nation Or the Surnames, Families, Literature, Honours and Biographical History of The People of Scotland by William Anderson 1863, although this might have been claimed by Thomas Pennant in 1775! I have also read that the last kill took place in 1743 near the River Findhorn in Moray. Then there's the wolf stone near Brora that states the last wolf was killed there in 1700!

So, the question is simply, where was the last wolf in Scotland actually killed?

[McDink]

Originally Posted by sftr

Then there's the wolf stone near Brora that states the last wolf was killed there in 1700!

INDEED, but it also states:

The last wolf in Sutherland was killed by the Hunter, Polson, in or about the year 1700

[Celyn]

Whenever I have looked for the same info., the "1743 near the River Findhorn" is the one that has always struck me as the most likely to be right. However, I'm just not old enough to be able to attest to it as a fact personally, so I don't suppose that will help you much.


Wolfssess is good!

[Celyn]

And wolves probably have better manners than I do. A belated welcome to sftr.

[sftr]

I actually meant to put the 1700 killing before the one in 1743 - I did realise the stone mentioned the last wolf being killed in Sutherland

Thanks for the welcome Celyn

[Lianachan]

I feel sorry for the last wolf in Scotland. It must have spent it's entire life, which seems to have been very long, tramping all over the country just to get shot by people.

[Lianachan]

More seriously, this may interest you.