Lidl withdraws hedgehog shelters after wildlife rescuers describe them as 'death traps'

Yvonne McCann who runs Hedgehog Rescue Dublin said: 'Hedgehogs are nosey, if they saw an insect inside, they would crawl up between the mesh and cage and not be able to get back down.'

Lidl has removed a range of hedgehog houses from its shelves after wildlife rehabbers described them as “death traps”.

The wire-based structures had been on sale at the supermarket giant for €9.99 and were described as a “Hedgehog Hideout” and “natural shelter for hedgehogs for sleeping and feeding plus nesting”.

However, a spokesperson for Lidl told the Irish Examiner that the product has been removed after concerns were raised by wildlife rescuers involved in the care of hedgehogs.

Yvonne McCann who runs Hedgehog Rescue Dublin said: “My concerns are they are made out of wire. You can see if a hedgehog climbs up into it, they will be trapped and won’t get out.

“They are also very damp. Once a hedgehog is in an enclosure in plastic like that, the condensation from them breathing out, it will go up to the roof and fall back down.

Lidl's 'Hedgehog Hideout' has been removed from shelves after concerns were raised by wildlife rescuers involved in the care of hedgehogs.

"They will be soaking wet. The fact they are made from cages is not good, the bars are too big, they are flimsy, there is no protection from predators. A fox would just up-end that.

“Hedgehogs are nosey, if they saw an insect inside, they would crawl up between the mesh and cage and not be able to get back down.

“They are really not fit for purpose, but I am glad to see they have now been removed."

Hedgehogs are a protected species in Ireland and campaigners across Europe have also highlighted the dangers of the Lidl hideouts, which have also been removed in the UK.

Ms McCann said a rain-proof wooden structure with two openings is a "much better, tougher structure" for nesting hedgehogs who hibernate in winter.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Lidl said its “Hedgehog Hut product has been sold in Lidl stores across Europe for several years". 

"It has proved exceptionally popular with customers, with no reported issues regarding safety," it said. “Lidl takes animal welfare extremely seriously and all products we sell comply with EU and National Regulation. Prior to being stocked by Lidl in any of its stores, this specific product was subject to stringent SGS testing to ensure all quality and compliance standards were met.

“However, we take all feedback and concerns regarding products on sale in our stores seriously, including feedback about this product which we received from a hedgehog rescue organisation based in Northern Ireland two weeks ago. As a precaution, we immediately removed the product from our stores across the island of Ireland and we are currently seeking expert advice on the matter.”