Mayors in Germany are calling for a nationwide ban on robot lawnmowers operating at night. They say the machines are killing and injuring hedgehogs and other small animals.
Robot lawnmowers are popular in Germany. Many people program them to work at night. But small animals like hedgehogs are most active after dark, and the machines’ blades can seriously hurt or kill them.
Hedgehogs are also difficult for the sensors to detect because they curl into a ball when they feel threatened instead of running away.
Claudia Kalisch, vice-president of the German federation of cities and mayor of Lüneburg, told The Guardian that gardens in cities have become important habitats for animals.
She says a ban on night-time use is a logical step to protect them. She also called on manufacturers to develop safer machines.
Several German cities, including Cologne, Leipzig and Munich, have already banned night-time use of robot lawnmowers. But mayors want a single rule for the whole country.
Hedgehog numbers in Europe have dropped by at least 30% over the last ten years. The animals were added to the international “near threatened” list in 2024. Robot lawnmowers are one of several dangers they face.
In Germany, it is illegal to trap, injure or kill a hedgehog. Fines can reach €65,000.
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