The Federation of German Cities is calling for a ban on robotic lawnmowers operating at night to protect hedgehogs and other small animals. Claudia Kalisch, Vice President of the Federation of German Cities and Mayor of Lüneburg, told the Funke Media Group newspapers that gardens host many active animals during the evenings. She pointed out that these green spaces are vital for the survival of these creatures in their immediate residential surroundings. As natural habitats are shrinking, cities are increasingly becoming substitute living environments for numerous species, making a nationwide nighttime ban a “more consistent form of protection”.
Kalisch also emphasized the responsibility of the equipment manufacturers. The Federation urged manufacturers to develop “solutions so that small animals are not further endangered by robotic lawnmowers”. Furthermore, she suggested that residents can contribute to animal protection by setting their devices to prevent nighttime operation. She added that this action is an important element in protecting wildlife and enriching the quality of urban life through biodiversity. Hedgehogs, specifically, are considered particularly vulnerable to robotic lawnmowers because their instinctive reaction to danger is to curl up rather than flee.
