McDonald’s Redesigned McFlurries To Protect Hedgehogs

Do you remember getting a McFlurry from McDonald’s before 2006? If you do, you may recall enjoying a wide plastic lid, with a large hole to dig out the ice cream.

If you go get a McFlurry, today, however, you may notice the hole in the lid is just big enough to squeeze the spoon through. The reason for the change? Hedgehogs.

Hedgehogs enjoy a sweet treat as much as the next person, and they’ll often dig through trash if they smell something tasty. The problem is, garbage is known to harm wildlife and hedgehogs were getting into dangerous situations over the McFlurries.

In fact, so many hedgehogs were getting their heads stuck in the dessert cup lids that the British Hedgehog Preservation Society campaigned to have the lids redesigned, according to the Independent.

McDonald’s agreed to the change, and in 2006, the lids were redesigned to have a much smaller hole so the little critters wouldn’t get their heads stuck.

Despite the change of the lids, some hedgehogs are still getting their heads stuck. In 2017, Larkmead Vets shared about one such incident on Facebook, writing:

“This poor little hedgehog had a visit to us at the weekend after getting stuck in a McFlurry lid. After Nurse Poppy cut the lid off he had to be anaesthetised to have his wounds cleaned, made where he was struggling to escape! Please be careful where you dispose of your rubbish – sugary smells can be very appealing to animals. Happily he has made a full recovery and is now back snuffling around.”

The North West Motorway Police and Buzzfeed also shared photos of two different hedgehogs struggling with McFlurry trash:

Mr Hedgehog struggling with his McFlurry assistance given, now happily on his way with advice not to walk on the motorway. #MC14. #M62J8 pic.twitter.com/zppeqUT8qO

— North West Motorway Police (@NWmwaypolice) May 7, 2017

This Hedgehog Was In A Hurry And Got His Head Stuck In A McFlurryhttp://t.co/dAP3d6Z5tz pic.twitter.com/IUFSVagvcB

— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) November 18, 2014

It’s a good reminder to properly dispose of your waste, especially if you’re going to McDonald’s. If wildlife can get a hold of it, they’re going to try to – and it may not end well.