MD Hedgehog a Finalist for Cadbury Bunny Contest

By Kathy Knotts

Step aside Easter bunny; the hedgehog is making a play for the rabbit ears.

Laura Easter’s hedgehog Maple is one of ten finalists in Cadbury’s annual Bunny Tryout contest. Thousands enter this competition every year to try to get their beloved pet in a Cadbury commercial, plus a cash prize and bragging rights.

Maple is the only finalist from Maryland, and calls Highland home. Easter says the hedgehog came from a breeder in Northern Virginia and went home with them at just 2 months old. “We have not entered Maple in any other contests,” says Easter. “But she has an Instagram account that we started for her shortly after we got her…to share pics with friends and family to cheer them up. Since then, she’s acquired about 10,700 followers.”

Tryouts are open to all types of pets; all the owners must do is submit a photo of their pet in bunny ears.

 Maple is up against some stiff competition including the usual dogs and cats, but also a sugar glider named Sprinkles, a bearded dragon named Cheeto Puff the Magic Dragon, and a llama named Eclipse.

Easter says she just wants to spread love and happiness, which Maple easily provides.

The votes come with some fuzzy good deeds. For every vote Cadbury donates $5,000 to the ASPCA, plus an additional donation for every 5,000 incremental votes.

The public can vote daily until March 22: bunnytrouts.cadburyusa.com. Winner will be announced March 29.

Find Maple on Instagram @maplehedgie.