Robotic lawn mowers pose a significant danger to hedgehogs, as well as to reptiles and amphibians. The devices fail to detect the animals adequately and sometimes cause them serious injury. Twelve animal welfare, nature conservation, and species protection organizations have therefore sent an open letter to the responsible Federal Minister of Agriculture, Alois Rainer: They are calling for a nationwide ban on the use of robotic lawn mowers at night. The Association of German Cities had also recently called for this.
“The fact that hedgehogs are now on the Red List in Germany is a warning sign that must not be ignored and requires urgent action. A nationwide ban on the use of robotic lawn mowers from one hour before sunset to one hour after sunrise could significantly reduce the risk of death for numerous hedgehogs,” according to the signatory organizations. They point out that hedgehogs and other affected species are specially protected under the Federal Nature Conservation Act and the Federal Species Protection Ordinance, which is why it is prohibited to capture, injure, or kill them, or to destroy their habitats. It is therefore logical and necessary to enshrine the nighttime ban on robotic lawn mowers in law as a protective measure.
Several municipalities, such as Augsburg, Bayreuth, Cologne, and Leipzig, have implemented corresponding restrictions. Although a nationwide regulation was discussed during the reform of the Animal Welfare Law planned in the last legislative session and included in draft bills, it failed due to the collapse of the traffic-light coalition. Most recently, the Association of German Cities also called for a nationwide ban.
INJURIES CAUSED BY ROBOTIC LAWN MOWERS ARE OFTEN FATAL
Hedgehogs are particularly active in the evening and at night and are therefore frequently victims of robotic lawn mowers. Even minor cuts from the rotating, sharp blades can lead to serious infections. The population is also massively threatened by shrinking habitats, food shortages due to insect decline, and road traffic.
The following organizations are co-signatories of the open letter:
- Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland e.V. (BUND)
- Bund gegen Missbrauch der Tiere e.V. (bmt)
- Deutsche Juristische Gesellschaft für Tierschutzrecht e.V. (DJGT)
- Deutscher Naturschutzring e.V. (DNR)
- Deutscher Tierschutzbund e.V.
- Europäischer Tier- und Naturschutz e.V. (ETN)
- Menschen für Tierrechte e.V.
- Pro Wildlife e.V.
- VIER PFOTEN – Stiftung für Tierschutz
- Vogelschutz-Komitee Naturstiftung
- WWF Deutschland
- Umweltinstitut München e.V.
