The Hidden Dangers of Robotic Lawn Mowers: Hedgehog Fatalities on the Rise

In many gardens across Germany, robotic lawn mowers are becoming increasingly popular for maintaining a pristine lawn. However, these machines pose a significant threat to hedgehogs, particularly during nighttime operations. As nocturnal creatures, hedgehogs react to approaching danger by curling into a ball--a defense mechanism that unfortunately can lead to fatal injuries when confronted by a mowing robot.

According to Julia Stubenbord, a regional animal welfare officer in Baden-Württemberg, the rise in robotic lawn mowers has coincided with an alarming increase in the number of injured hedgehogs. The German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BUND) and the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) have been advocating for nighttime operating bans for these machines due to the increasing incidences of harm to wildlife.

Statistics from the Leibniz-IZW, in collaboration with hedgehog rescue centers, indicate that from June 2022 to October 2023, there were 370 reported cases of hedgehogs suffering from cuts caused by these lawn mowers. Tragically, nearly half of these animals (47 percent) did not survive their injuries. Many more remain unreported, as injured hedgehogs often seek refuge in bushes and hedges after being struck, complicating efforts to quantify the total impact.

Anne Berger from the Leibniz-IZW noted that a significant percentage of injured hedgehogs are discovered days or even weeks after the incident, enduring prolonged suffering before being found. This situation raises serious ethical concerns, as inflicting such distress on animals is against the law when alternatives exist that do not cause harm.

As the population of hedgehogs continues to decline, other factors beyond robotic mowers also contribute to their endangerment. The German Wildlife Foundation highlights habitat loss due to modern agricultural practices and manicured gardens, which provide insufficient shelter and food sources. Many hedgehogs fall victim to traffic accidents or struggle to find adequate nutrition due to the drastic decline in insect populations.

The European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) is currently listed as a species of concern in Germany and is classified as 'potentially endangered' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

In response to these growing concerns, manufacturers like Stihl acknowledge the injury risks posed by robotic lawn mowers to hedgehogs. The company has implemented design improvements in their latest models to mitigate these risks. Additionally, the preset mowing schedules for these devices do not include nighttime operations. If users opt to program nighttime mowing through the app, they receive a warning advising against such actions to protect small animals.

Environmental experts encourage homeowners to reconsider the necessity of robotic lawn mowers, suggesting that allowing grass to grow longer can benefit not only hedgehogs but also a variety of insects, amphibians, and other wildlife. Embracing a more natural lawn care approach can significantly enhance biodiversity in residential areas.