Supermarket chain Lidl has removed its hedgehog houses from sale following warnings from Egelbescherming, the Dutch Hedgehog Protection organization, that the products posed serious risks to the animals.
The organization found the houses sold for 15.99 euros to be unsafe. Egelbescherming director Jenny Kleve told RTL that the entrance of the houses is too small. “If a pregnant female tries to squeeze through, she will very likely suffer internal bleeding. Her young can die or be severely injured. We see this in the animals brought to shelters,” Kleve said.
The wood used in the houses was also found to be inadequate. Kleve explained, “It is very cheap wood that quickly absorbs moisture. That means hedgehogs are not in a warm nest but in a home full of mold and dampness.” Exposure to moisture and mold can lead to hair loss, lung problems, and even death during hibernation.
A spokesperson for Lidl Netherlands confirmed that only a limited number of the houses had been sold. “Once we learned that the houses might not fully meet Egelbescherming Nederland guidelines, we decided as a precaution to stop selling them. That said, using this house does not automatically pose a risk to hedgehogs,” the spokesperson said.
Egelbescherming welcomed the action but warned that unsafe hedgehog houses remain widely available online. “Companies sell these out of commercial interest and ignorance. It’s a big victory that Lidl listened to our advice, but we are far from done. The internet is full of unsafe houses,” Kleve said.
The organization has published a guide to help people choose safe hedgehog shelters. “People mean well, but poor-quality products threaten the small hedgehog population. Then you don’t have a sleeping spot in your garden, but a coffin for hedgehogs,” she added.