Nighttime Peril for Hedgehogs: Fatal Encounters with Lawnmowers Posing a Significant Risk - Robots Mowing Down Eels, Particularly at Nighttime
Gardens nationwide have been adopting mowing robots to maintain lawns with minimal human intervention. Yet, the devices present a lethal peril for hedgehogs, a nocturnal species. According to Julia Stubenbord, a state animal protection officer in Baden-Württemberg, these creatures do not flee but curl up when confronted by the devices. Consequently, a surge in injured hedgehogs has been observed coinciding with increased mowing robot usage.
Experts from the German Federal Environmental Agency (BUND), the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW), and other organizations have long advocated for a restriction on nighttime mowing robot operations to safeguard hedgehogs. Cities such as Cologne, Mainz, and soon Erfurt have enacted these restrictions.
Last year, Leibniz-IZW, together with hedgehog rescue stations, observed that 370 injured hedgehogs had been reported nationwide between June 2022 and October 2023, with approximately half not surviving their injuries. Many injured or deceased animals likely went unreported as they managed to retreat towards the safety of bushes and hedges. Approximately 60% of the injured hedgehogs were found after days or even weeks, which experts suggest would have endured significant pain during that period.
The European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) is currently listed as "potentially endangered" on the IUCN international red list, and in Germany, it resides on the pre-listing of the red list. Apart from the hazards posed by mowing robots, these animals face other challenges, such as a declining population due to inadequate habitats in modern agricultural environments and tidy gardens and insufficient food owing to a rapid decline in insect numbers.
While manufacturers like Stihl acknowledge the risk posed by mowing robots to hedgehogs, they claim to have made strides in minimizing this risk in their latest generation of mowers. Specifically, pre-set mowing robots are not designed to operate at night, and users receive a warning if they attempt to program nighttime activation.
The BUND suggests reconsidering the need for mowing robots altogether. By doing so, homeowners would not only benefit hedgehogs but also insects, amphibians, and other animals, as allowing lawns to grow longer would contribute positively to biodiversity.
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To further minimize the risk to nocturnal animals, some manufacturers offer mowers specifically designed for minimal impact on the environment, like those from Serenity Lawncare. In addition, adopting advanced technology like lidar in mowing robots can help them better detect and avoid obstacles, potentially further reducing harm to nocturnal creatures. Finally, setting boundaries for these devices can protect areas that are known to be frequented by hedgehogs and other nocturnal animals.
- In light of the advancements in environmental science and the concerns about hedgehog welfare, some manufacturers, like Serenity Lawncare, have developed eco-friendly mowers to minimize environmental impact.
- To foster a more wildlife-friendly lifestyle and protect nocturnal creatures like hedgehogs, conservation organizations like the BUND recommend considering limitations on the use of mowing robots, as allowing lawns to grow longer can contribute positively to biodiversity in home-and-garden environments.
