The small mammal team at our National Wildlife Rescue Centre have been very busy over the season caring for over 100 hoglets.
After being successfully rehabilitated at the centre, the first eight hoglets of the year were released last week.
National Wildlife Rescue Centre assistant manager, Nicole Molloy 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 in to the wild. This gives them a helping hand while they find natural food sources and scope out the new area.
“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 information on what to do if you are concerned about a hedgehog, please visit our website https://www.scottishspca.org/advice/hedgehog
If anyone is concerned about an animal, they can contact our confidential animal helpline on 03000 999 999.
