THE first batch of rehabilitated baby hedgehogs have been released back into the wild by the Scottish SPCA.

More than 100 hoglets have been cared for by the team at the Scottish SPCA's National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Fishcross.

The small mammal teams has now released eight hoglets after being successfully rehabilitated over the season.

Nicole Molloy, assistant manager at SSPCA National Wildlife Rescue Centre, said: "It is necessary for our hoglets to spend some time outside in our aviary before we release them.

"They have to learn how to forage for food, where to go for safety and to display natural behaviours.

"The team have encouraged this by lining the ground with bark to encourage insects and to make it easy for the hoglets to forage.

"We use dog beds with hay to sleep in but also make sure they have plenty of moss and leaves for them to use as bedding which will help them with making nests once they are released.

"We also add in tunnels and small bridges to encourage them to use their muscles and practice climbing.

"This enrichment also prevents the hoglets from being bored outside as they have so much to explore and sniff.

"All of our hoglets are released to a support fed site, where they are helped with food for their first weeks back into the wild.

"We are always on the lookout for more support fed release sites as we will have the second litters arriving later on in the season."

For more info on what to do if you are concerned for a hedgehog, visit scottishspca.org/advice/hedgehog.