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Hedgehog Concerns and Potential Night-time Robotic Mower Ban
Mowing robots, designed to maintain gardens with minimal effort, are rolling across many lawns in Germany. However, these modern lawn-care tools pose a significant threat to hedgehogs, hence sparking a debate on a potential night-time driving ban.
According to Julia Stubenbord, the state animal welfare officer in Baden-Württemberg, hedgehogs tend to curl up instead of moving away when encountering mowing robots. As a result, the number of injured hedgehogs has surged alongside the rise in the use of mowing robots.
Environmental organizations, such as the Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz (BUND) in Baden-Württemberg, and the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW), are advocating for a night-time driving ban for these robotic devices. Cities like Cologne, Mainz, and soon Erfurt, have already implemented such bans.
Researchers from Leibniz-IZW recorded 370 cases of cut injuries in hedgehogs nationwide between June 2022, and October 2023. Almost half of the recorded animals (47%) did not survive their injuries, and many more are believed to have suffered undiscovered or unreported injuries or fatalities.
These undiscovered cases typically occur when hedgehogs, upon being run over, seek refuge in hedges and bushes, making them difficult to spot. According to Anne Berger from Leibniz-IZW, many of the injured hedgehogs were found days or even weeks after the incidents, indicating prolonged periods of pain and suffering.
The decline in hedgehog populations isn't limited to the threat posed by robotic mowers. The German Wildlife Foundation reports that modern agricultural landscapes and well-maintained gardens often lack suitable habitats, forcing many hedgehogs to either be run over or struggle to find food due to the rapid decline in insect populations.
In Germany, the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) is listed as "potentially threatened" on the Red List, both nationally and internationally.
While the search results do not provide specific information on a night-time driving ban for mowing robots in Germany, efforts are being made to develop hedgehog-proof robotic lawnmowers through crash tests and emergency brake systems. Advances in technology, such as lidar, can potentially improve obstacle detection and avoidance, reducing the need for bans by creating safer devices for wildlife.
By reducing night-time collisions, the mortality rate of hedgehogs could decrease, benefiting the overall health of hedgehog populations and contributing to broader conservation strategies. Public awareness about the importance of wildlife safety could also grow from these discussions, potentially driving the implementation of more comprehensive protective measures.
- The environmental protection advocates, including BUND and Leibniz-IZW, are pushing for a night-time driving ban for robotic mowers due to the increasing number of injured hedgehogs resulting from their operation.
- The potential night-time robotic mower ban is gaining traction in Germany as part of environmental protection measures and efforts to preserve the health of hedgehog populations, with cities like Cologne, Mainz, and soon Erfurt already implementing such bans.
