Hedgehog removal scheme started

Hedgehogs were blamed for eating birds' eggs

A year-long trial of capturing and moving hedgehogs from the Western Isles to the mainland instead of putting them down is now under way.

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) decided to suspend its cull in February.

The organisation has instead arranged for the animals to be gathered and transported from the Uists.

The cull was originally started to protect the eggs of rare wading birds. The agency had previously said hedgehogs would not survive relocation.

However, animal welfare campaigners began their own programme of trapping and transporting the hedgehogs.

SNH will hand the hedgehogs over to a welfare organisation in line with guidance from the Scottish Society for the Protection of Animals (SSPCA).