In the great rolling hills of the Scottish Highlands, there lives a wee creature so rare that ye might think ‘tis just a tall tale. Nestled in the heather and a-rambling its way across the moors on legs of uneven length, Scotland’s most elusive species lies waiting to be uncovered: the haggis.

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The Scottish Wild Haggis (Hagis scoticus) is best known as the namesake main ingredient in (what else?) haggis, Scotland’s most famous dish. It is a rare hairy mammal that boasts some incredible adaptations to the rugged and windy terrain of the highlands. Many people out there possess silly notions like “skepticism,” and “a need for evidence.” Fear not, skeptics. By the end of this article, you will have little doubt that the Scottish Wild Haggis is as real as you, me, Bigfoot, or the government man in a trenchcoat who is always following me but only I can see.

The uneven and mountainous terrain of the Highlands can prove challenging for many foraging species, and the haggis, which eats budding heather, small invertebrates, and the occasional potato or field mouse, is no exception. The Haggis boosts its mobility by having legs of uneven length. By having longer legs on either their right or left side, the animal can move in either a clockwise or counterclockwise path around a mountain, conserving vital energy and helping the animal keep its balance. Incredibly, it appears that haggis prefer to mate with others with longer limbs on the same side as their own. Presumably, that is because wild haggis with evenly-shaped limbs are at an evolutionary disadvantage. This phenomenon is called “assortative mating”, where individuals with similar traits are more likely to mate with one another. Haggis of a feather flock together! Or uh, something along those lines.

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Thick, layered fur helps protect the haggis from the harsh wind and rain, as well as predators such as foxes, stoats, and eagles. Researchers have discovered that haggis will use their lopsided legs to frantically run in circles when under threat by a predator, a tactic which serves to confuse predators. If you spot a worn circle-shaped imprint in the heather fields of the highlands, chances are you’ve seen a haggis successfully outwit a would-be predator!

Humankind has introduced an even greater threat to the wellbeing of this species: sheep. Sheep are strong competitors for the plants that wild haggis crave, leading to conflict between the two species over resources. By preserving key patches of land across Scotland and keeping them sheep-free, conservationists are hoping to keep the wonderful (and delicious) Wild Haggis free to roam and forage.

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Unfortunately, only a mere one third of Americans believe in the existence of the very real haggis. You don’t need a mathematician to tell you that the remaining ninety percent of people need to get their act together! This majestic species may be good at hiding from humans, but let me tell ya laddie, the reward of spotting a wee haggis in the wild is bloody well worth it.

Main featured image by Stara Blazkova [Source].

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Written by: Jacob MacJohnson is a highland warrior who was mysteriously transported to the year 2025 after decades spent fighting in the army of Robert the Bruce, defeater of the English and the one true King of Scotland. When he’s not attempting to find the one boulder that will bring him back to the year 1324, he enjoys learning about animal behavior in his spare time.

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References:

[1] Carvel, J. (2003, November 27). Majestic haggis of the glens proves elusive for US tourists. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/nov/27/travelnews.travel

[2] Munson, A. A., Jones, C., Schraft, H., & Sih, A. (2020). You’re Just My Type: Mate Choice and Behavioral Types. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 35(9), 823–833. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2020.04.010

[3] Webb, S. (2018, November 8). The Wild Haggis. CLAN. https://clan.com/blog/the-wild-haggis

[Edited by Jacob Johnson and Alice Michel]