McDonald's vows to stop killing hedgehogs

Who knew that a McFlurry could be deadly (other than diabetics or people allergic to overpriced, underflavored desserts).Apparently, the Hedgehog Welfare Society did.

Hedgehogs all over the U.K. were dying after sticking their heads into discarded McFlurry cups, looking for a little sticky goodness, only to find that they couldn't back out, due to their prickly quills. Starving to death because of looking for something to eat...tragically ironic, don'tcha think?

But after only FIVE YEARS of being petitioned by Hedgie lovers all over the world, Ronald McDonald has finally awoken from his gluttonous stupor to respond. Did they somehow make the McFlurry less desirable to hedgehogs? Did they encourage the government to (dare I say it?) make littering illegal? No, dummy. They changed the packaging.

McDonald's said in a statement the design change had resulted from pressure from the society which prompted "significant research and design testing" to develop new packaging. "The smaller aperture of the lid has been designed to prevent hedgehogs from entering the McFlurry container in the unfortunate incidence that a lid is littered and is then accessible to wildlife," it said.

And millions of tiny voices broke into the "Hallelujah Chorus."


Another good thing to come out of this: I've found a new resource for wacky-but-true news stories, like this one over here. The last sentence alone is worth following the link. We ain't got nothin' on the British when it comes to odd news.