Aldi hedgehog house could trap and kill animals, charity warns

A HEDGEHOG house due to go on sale at Aldi, the German discount chain, could result in the animals becoming trapped by their spines and dying, a charity has claimed.

The £9.99 Gardenline Igloo Hedgehog House has a brushwood dome with a waterproof membrane, and is supposed to protect hedgehogs from predators.

But Hedgepigs and Hoglets Rescue said that the item’s design meant it could catch on a hedgehog’s spines, leaving them unable to get out and leading to them starving to death or becoming asphyxiated or injured.

The charity, based in Great Ayton,

North Yorkshire, tried to dissuade potential buyers by posting on social media ahead of the product’s launch on Thursday.

They shared a screenshot of the product and said: “Please do not buy this product. These igloo houses have been the cause of injury and quite probably deaths for Hedgehogs, consequently we are calling for their ban.

“Hedgehog rescues report that hedgehogs’ spines get caught up in the inside where they become stuck and literally starve to death or at least suffer injuries.

“They are poorly made and blow over in the wind. They should be removed from the market.”

An Aldi spokesman said: “Over a quarter of a million of these hedgehog houses have been sold over many years by various retailers and charities including the RSPB and The Woodland Trust.

“It has been tested extensively and our supplier hasn’t had any reported safety issues.

“We are talking to Hedgepigs and Hoglets Rescue to share this information and allay their concerns.”

‘Hedgehogs’ spines get caught up in the inside where they become stuck and literally starve to death’