The Green Party faction in the Bundestag has filed a motion advocating for a full ban on the night operation of robotic lawnmowers, citing the need to better protect hedgehogs. This proposal suggests that manufacturers must be legally required to technically block night operation on all new devices starting in 2027 using updated software. Furthermore, the Green representatives are calling for the federal government to establish a uniform nationwide regulation stipulating that mowers are only permitted to operate during daylight hours.
The push for regulation stems from the increasing number of hedgehogs that are being severely injured or killed due to the widespread use of these devices. The Green faction’s argument points to tests that demonstrated the robots’ sensors frequently fail to detect hedgehogs, preventing the machines from avoiding them. Given that the hedgehog population was already classified as potentially endangered in 2024, the party considers the robots an additional threat to the species. Echoing this view, the Federation of German Associations of Cities and Municipalities has also called for a night-time driving ban on the equipment.
Speaking to the Funke newspapers, Green politician Harald Ebner, a member of the Environment Committee, emphasized the ecological importance of hedgehogs, noting that they consume snails and naturally control pests. However, he cautioned that the species’ populations are dwindling drastically due to pesticides, habitat loss, and increasingly, the use of robotic mowers. Ebner warned that the machines pose a growing death risk to these primarily nocturnal creatures, which lack a strong flight instinct.
He proposed a solution where these machines operate during the day and are used only for charging at night. Achieving this requires a nationwide framework rather than a patchwork of individual municipal rules. Ebner stressed that technical solutions are essential. In particular, manufacturers should be mandated to program daytime operation, and better systems that guarantee reliable hedgehog recognition are needed. Finally, he addressed the broader context, requesting increased support for volunteer hedgehog rescue stations and other nature conservation facilities.
