A band of runaway wild boar have sparked an alert in the Perthshire countryside.
Walkers are being warned to remainvigilant amid fears the escapees may have bred since their getaway in November.
Eight animals went on the run from Bamff Estate, near Alyth, after a storm felled trees, damaging fencing on their 50-acre enclosure.
Because they were destined forslaughter, the gender of the escaped beasts is unknown but if there is a mix of males and females it is possible they have now been joined by piglets.
As a result, members of the public are being warned to be on the lookout,particularly if they are walking their dogs.
However the pigs’ owner Paul Ramsay stressed the risk to humans is “low” as they are usually nocturnal, foraging in early morning or late afternoon and evening.
He said: “I would say there’s a minimal risk to the public.Wild boar are very secretive and shy, and they will run away.
“The only reason people should be aware is they are young animals and they may well have a couple of little piglets at this time of year.
“I don’t know (if they have bred) but this is the time of year when wild boar arefarrowing.
“The only thing to be careful of is to keep your dog under control, preferably on a lead, if you are out walking.
“What can happen is a dog will rush off and it’ll smell the wild boar.
“If it jumps in on a boar with her little ones, that can be quite dangerous. It can lead to the dog being injured.”
Mr Ramsay said he was certain theanimals have remained in the local area.
“They’ve been living on the Alyth Hill and the country round about,” he said.
“There have been sightings, not so much of them because by day they’re snuggled up in the whins and broome, but we know they’re about because they come into grass fields and the plough with their muzzles looking for food.
“Some of the fields in Alyth have had work done on them by the wild boar, which is how we know they’ve been there.”
Perth and Kinross Council has been working with the Forestry Commission Scotland and land owners to monitor the situation.
A spokesman for Forestry CommissionScotland said: “Together with otherland managers around the site, we aremonitoring the situation and trying to find the animals or track their movements.
“Once we have a fix on them, we will be in a position to discuss with the council’s team and the animals’ owner how best to deal with them.”
Any sightings should be reported to the council’s animal welfare team on 01738 476476.