Hanging with the Highland Coo
Scotland is home to some beautiful wildlife. Animals such as red squirrels, red deer, puffins, eagles, otters, seals, and dolphins grace the area. The Highlands are a special home to these creatures. But the one mammal we view to be more stunning and special than the rest is none other than the Highland Coo, also referred to as the Highland Cow. Learn more about these stunning creatures, what makes them memorable and where you can see them in the countryside.
Is it coo or cow?
No, coo is not a typo. Coo is the Scots way to say cow. Many natives refer to these animals as Heilan Coos. But if you find yourself calling them cows, you’re not wrong either. It’s just a preference and verbiage often used by people born in Scotland.
Why are so many coos red?
Not every coo you see will be red in color, in fact, many are brown, yellow, white or black. The reason the red coo is so popular to due to Queen Victoria. During her reign, she deemed the red coos as most beautiful and requested more coos of this color be bred to her pleasing. If she were still alive today, you could thank her for their prevalence.
How do I tell males from females?
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Male and female coos can easily be distinguished by their horns. Female horns are thinner, longer and point upward more distinctly. Male horns are thicker and shorter and less curved.
What are baby coos like?
Baby coos are born with small horn buds. 18 months later, those buds start to grow and form curves. At 3 years old, coos will have their full set of horns. The mother coo stays with her baby until is it mostly developed at 2 years of age.
What is the best time of the year to see them?
The best time of the year to see coos of all ages in during the months of March and April. Most coos will give birth in March, so this is the perfect time to see newborns making up coo families! But don’t worry if you can’t visit Scotland during this time of year because coos live outdoors all year long. Their hair allows them to roam happily during all weather influxes.
When you’re ready to witness these gorgeous animals for yourself, Celtic Tours will include the Scottish Highlands in your agenda so you can see the Highland Coos up close and personal! There’s no better time to prepare your Scotland trip than now.
