Preventative Measures at Night: The Danger Lawn Mowers Pose to Hedgehogs - Deadly Consequences of Unmonitored Harvesting Robots for Hedgehog Populations
Hedgehogs Face Peril as Lawn Mowing Robots Graze at Night
Garden owners across Germany are relying on automated lawn care, but these machines pose a significant risk to nocturnal wildlife like hedgehogs. The Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz (BUND) in Baden-Württemberg and the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) are urging for a ban on the nighttime operation of mowing robots to safeguard the dwindling hedgehog population.
These small, prickly creatures are particularly susceptible to mowing robots, as they curl up instead of fleeing, making them easy targets for the machines' blades. According to veterinarian and state animal welfare officer Julia Stubenbord, numerous injured hedgehogs have been reported. The Leibniz-IZW, in collaboration with multiple hedgehog rescue stations, found up to 370 reported cases with 47% of the animals failing to survive their injuries.
Studies conducted at the University of Aalborg in Denmark reveal that none of the 19 tested mowing robot models can identify hedgehogs without causing harm. In controlled tests, these machines either injured or killed the small creatures when encountering them on the grass.
In response, manufacturers such as Stihl acknowledge the potential hazard posed by their mowers and have taken steps to reduce the risk. Stihl robots do not include night activation in the preset mowing plans, and users are warned against enabling it to protect crepuscular and nocturnal animals. However, experts caution that current models are not yet "hedgehog-friendly."
Germany's Ministry of Agriculture has reviewed a nighttime driving ban for lawn mowers but has not deemed it necessary in the southwest. The city of Erfurt, among others, has already imposed a nighttime ban for the protection of hedgehogs, much like Cologne and Mainz. Violators could face fines of up to €50,000.
Despite concerns about declining hedgehog populations due to road traffic, agricultural practices, and decreasing food sources, there is currently no federal night ban for lawn mowers in Germany. The Federal Ministry for the Environment aims to address this issue and establish technical rules for hedgehog-friendly mowing robots in 2026.
Conservationists advise homeowners to exclude mowing robots from parts of their gardens and allow grass to grow taller to provide daytime refuge for hedgehogs and other nocturnal wildlife. This approach not only benefits these creatures but also contributes to biodiversity conservation.
Animal welfare, lawn care, BUND, Germany, spring, and the environment are key elements in this story. The loss of hedgehog habitats, road traffic, and diminishing food sources all contribute to the decline of the hedgehog population. While nocturnal activity is particularly hazardous, care should be taken to protect these and other nocturnal species during mowing operations. By creating wild areas for daytime refuge and rethinking the need for mowing robots, we can work towards a safer, more animal-friendly environment.
- The Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz (BUND) in Baden-Württemberg, in collaboration with environmental-science experts from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW), advocate for the implementation of community policy that includes a ban on the nighttime operation of mowing robots to safeguard the dwindling hedgehog population and other nocturnal species.
- In the realm of education-and-self-development, it is essential for vocational training programs to incorporate information about the safety of lawn mowing technology, particularly when it comes to nighttime operations and the protection of endangered nocturnal wildlife such as hedgehogs.
- To further the advancement of technology in a manner that respects the environment, researchers in the field of science are focusing on the development of hedgehog-friendly mowing robots. These new models will aim to minimize harm to nocturnal wildlife like hedgehogs, contributing to a safer and more harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.
