In Germany,
robot lawnmowers have become more common, often turning on in the evening to trim yards without human supervision. But this futuristic practice also means there aren't any people to make sure the
lawnmowers' sharp blades don't hurt innocent wildlife. And in fact,
hedgehogs are emerging as a primary victim of these machines.
Hedgehogs are small nocturnal animals that curl up and sleep in bushes and underground, awakening at night to begin roaming around. And that's around the same exact time that the lawnmowers 'come alive,' too. So it's no surprise that people are finding
more and more hedgehogs covered in brutal cuts.Sign the petition to protect hedgehogs by calling for a nationwide ban on nighttime robot lawnmowers!The International Union for Conservation of Nature placed hedgehogs on its Red List of
near-threatened species in 2024. Just in the past 10 years,
hedgehog populations have declined by an alarming 30%.And German lawmakers have made sure to protect hedgehogs.
It is illegal to injure, trap, or kill the prickly little animals, with any violations carrying hefty fines.
Despite that, the autonomous lawn-cutting machines remain popular. And as long as that continues, hedgehogs and other nocturnal animals will remain in danger of being attacked by this equipment. And those animals often suffer not just from the initial wounding, but from the slow deaths that can sometimes follow.
According to Anne Berger, a researcher with the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Germany: "the majority of hedgehogs with cut injuries are found days or weeks after the accident happened and therefore have to endure considerable suffering, pain and harm."
Luckily, some German cities are taking action to protect wildlife. Munich, Cologne, and Leipzig have all banned the use of robotic lawnmowers at night.
It's time for the rest of the country to step up and do the right thing as well! Demand a full, nationwide ban on nighttime robot lawnmowers in Germany! Protect the hedgehogs and sign the petition!