Mayors across Germany are advocating for a nationwide prohibition on the nighttime operation of robotic lawnmowers to safeguard hedgehogs and other small nocturnal creatures from potential harm during the hours of darkness.<\/p>\n
Recent research has underscored the dangers posed by lawnmower blades to wildlife that is active during the night, leading to an increasing demand for regulatory measures. Hedgehogs, in particular, exhibit a natural instinct to curl into a ball when threatened, which complicates detection by the sensors of automated mowers.<\/p>\n
Claudia Kalisch, vice-president of the German Federation of Cities and mayor of L\u00fcneburg representing the Green Party, emphasized the importance of gardens as habitats for many animals, especially in the evenings. She noted that these green areas are crucial for wildlife living close to urban developments that encroach on their natural environments.<\/p>\n
Kalisch advocated for a national ban on the nighttime use of robotic lawnmowers, deeming it a sensible protective measure. This statement came after petitions calling for similar restrictions garnered significant public support, with tens of thousands of signatures earlier this year.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, Kalisch urged manufacturers of automated gardening tools to take greater responsibility in ensuring the safety of wildlife. She stated, \u201cWe are calling on producers to develop solutions that would prevent small animals from being harmed by robotic lawnmowers.\u201d She believes that this initiative is vital for animal protection and enhancing urban biodiversity.<\/p>\n
Since 2024, hedgehogs have been listed as \u201cnear threatened\u201d by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, following a 30% decline in their population over the past decade. In addition to robotic mowers, powered leaf blowers and vacuums can also pose risks to hibernating hedgehogs, while a significant number fall victim to vehicle traffic, contributing to their drastic population decrease across Europe in recent years.<\/p>\n
In a study released last month, researchers from the University of Oxford, in collaboration with Danish colleagues, revealed that hedgehogs can hear high-frequency ultrasound. This discovery raises the possibility of using sonic deterrents to keep them away from hazardous roads. Additionally, Oxford researchers have developed 3D-printed dummy hedgehogs to collaborate with industry partners, aiming to create a certification system for \u201chedgehog-friendly\u201d lawnmowers.<\/p>\n
Anne Berger, a co-author of the study from Germany\u2019s Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, remarked that injuries from robotic lawnmowers place significant stress on animal care facilities. \u201cMoreover, many hedgehogs with injuries from cuts are discovered days or even weeks after the incident, leading to prolonged suffering and pain,\u201d she noted.<\/p>\n
In Germany, hedgehogs are legally protected, with penalties of up to \u20ac65,000 (\u00a357,000) for trapping, injuring, or killing them. While several cities, including Cologne, Leipzig, and Munich, have already banned nighttime operation of robotic lawnmowers, a recent effort by the Green Party to establish a statewide ban in Bavaria was unsuccessful.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Mayors across Germany are advocating for a nationwide prohibition on the nighttime operation of robotic lawnmowers to safeguard hedgehogs and other small nocturnal creatures from potential harm during the hours of darkness. Recent research has underscored the dangers posed by lawnmower blades to wildlife that is active during the night, leading to an increasing demand […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4015,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[177,636,447,640,117,171,819,88,448,571],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4016","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uk-animals","category-uk-conservation","category-uk-endangered-species","category-uk-environment","category-uk-europe","category-uk-germany","category-uk-iucn-red-list-of-endangered-species","category-uk","category-uk-wildlife","category-uk-world-news"],"yoast_head":"\n