Potential Risks to Hedgehogs from Nighttime Lawnmower Robots - Robots Mowing Down Eels, Particularly at Nighttime
Garden Mowers Cause Hedgehog Injuries and Deaths
In an increasing number of gardens across the country, robotic lawn mowers have become a common sight, aiming to maintain short grass without human effort. However, these machines pose a significant threat to hedgehogs, especially at night.
As Julia Stubenbord, the state animal protection officer in Baden-Württemberg, explains, hedgehogs often curl up when they encounter mowers instead of running away, resulting in increased reports of injured hedgehogs as the number of mowing robots grows.
To mitigate this issue, experts, including those from BUND and Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW), have been advocating for a night driving ban for robotic mowers for some time. Already, cities like Cologne, Mainz, and soon Erfurt have implemented such measures.
Moreover, the Leibniz-IZW, along with hedgehog rescue stations, released figures last year showing a total of 370 hedgehogs with cut injuries reported nationwide between June 2022 and October 2023. Almost half (47 percent) did not survive, and it's believed that the true extent of the problem is underestimated due to undiscovered casualties.
Anne Berger from Leibniz-IZW explained that over 60 percent of hedgehogs with cut injuries were found days or even weeks after the accident, indicating prolonged suffering for the animals. "Animal suffering is prohibited by law if there are alternatives that do not cause such harm," Berger stated.
The decrease in hedgehog numbers is not only due to mowing robots. According to the German Wildlife Foundation, hedgehogs struggle to find suitable habitats in the modern agricultural landscape and neatly kept gardens. In addition, the rapid decline in insect populations often leads to insufficient food for hedgehogs.
Coincidentally, the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) is placed on the warning list of the Red List and is classified as "potentially endangered" on the international Red List of the World Conservation Union (IUCN).
Manufacturers like Stihl acknowledge the potential hazard posed by mowing robots to hedgehogs. Although they have taken steps to minimize this risk in their latest models, night activation is not provided in the preset mowing plans. If users opt for night activation manually, they are advised against it to protect small animals.
On the other hand, BUND advises against the unnecessary use of mowing robots, as they negatively impact hedgehogs, insects, amphibians, and other animals. Allowing the lawn to grow higher and flower could actually boost biodiversity.
Regarding advancements in technology, some AI-powered mowing robots, like the Landroid Vision AI, and mowers equipped with 3D Lidar have the ability to operate quietly at night and detect obstacles, including animals, thus reducing risks during operation. However, no specific government regulations or night operation bans for mowing robots are currently observed in the municipal or agricultural regulatory landscape.
Users concerned about animal welfare are encouraged to look for robotic mowers with advanced sensing and avoidance features, or manually restrict night-time operation if local wildlife impact is a concern.
- Adopting a community policy that bans robotic lawn mowers from operating at night could help decrease hedgehog injuries and deaths, as these machines pose a significant threat when operating during hours when hedgehogs are most active.
- By promoting the study of environmental science, including the impact of robotic lawn mowers on wildlife, we can help support health-and-wellness strategies that prioritize coexistence between humans and animals and their habitats, such as encouraging the growth of taller grass in lawns to provide a more hospitable environment for hedgehogs and other wildlife.
