Discourse over imposing a nighttime driving ban toprotect hedgehogs from lawnmower accidents during dark hours - Recommendation for a Radiation Safety Directive for Workers: Authorities Requested Proposal on Radiation Hazard Mitigation for Workforce
Hedgehog Casualties Rise Due to Mowing Robots: Pressing for Nighttime Driving Ban
Mowing robots, designed to maintain lawns with minimal effort, poses a grave threat to hedgehogs. According to Julia Stubenbord, the state animal welfare officer in Baden-Württemberg, these machines inadvertently cause numerous injuries when the small, still creatures fail to move away but curl up when approached.
In response, the Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz (BUND) in Baden-Württemberg, along with the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW), are advocating for a nighttime driving ban for these robotic mowers. Cities such as Cologne, Mainz, and soon Erfurt have already implemented such bans.
The Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research reported that, between the end of June 2022 and the end of October 2023, they documented 370 cases of injured hedgehogs with cut injuries, nearly half of which did not survive. Unreported cases are assumed to be high due to those that can escape hiding in hedges and bushes.
Animal welfare organizations argue that many hedgehogs suffer greatly from these accidents, with 60% of reported cut injury cases being discovered up to weeks after the mowing incident.
The declining numbers of hedgehogs are not exclusive to robotic mowers. According to the German Wildlife Foundation, these animals struggle to find suitable habitats due to modernized agricultural landscapes and well-kept gardens. Roadkill and insufficient food supply, triggered by the rapid decline in insects, further contribute to their demise.
Germany lists the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) as near threatened, with international classification recognizing it as "potentially endangered." Implementing safety measures in mowing robot technology, including nighttime driving bans and advanced sensors to detect and avoid animals, may be crucial for their conservation.
In this context, the community is urged to adopt a policy that prioritizes environmental protection, especially for endangered species like the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus). This can be achieved by either prohibiting mowing robots from operating at night or installing advanced sensors that detect and avoid animals during operation, in line with the efforts already made by cities like Cologne, Mainz, and Erfurt. Additionally, encouraging a lifestyle that includes gardening practices that promote a healthy environment can help provide suitable habitats for endangered species, such as hedgehogs, to thrive, as part of the overall science behind environmental-science and the protection of the planet and its diverse inhabitants.
