Robot mowers: major risk of injury for hedgehogs
Environmental Agency of the City of Chemnitz asks for attention
With the rise in temperatures, many robotic lawn mowers are back in use. They are becoming increasingly popular for lawn care in private gardens. However, this can be dangerous for hedgehogs and other small native animals, especially if the machines are used at dusk or at night.
Mortal danger for hedgehogs
Hedgehogs are crepuscular and nocturnal and are therefore particularly at risk as they are not flight animals. Instead, they curl up and rely on the protection of their spines. This often results in serious cuts or severed limbs, which often lead to death. Another problem is that many robotic mower models do not recognise small animals without touching them first. Contrary to the claims of many manufacturers, scientific studies by the Leibnitz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research show that the robotic lawnmowers only stopped and turned off after coming into direct contact with the hedgehogs. Stiftung Warentest came to a similar conclusion in its last robot mower test (04/2024).
Loss of species due to excessive green maintenance
Not only robotic lawnmowers are dangerous for animals, but also string mowers, brushcutters and brushcutters that are used to trim lawn edges or under bushes and hedges. Hedgehogs in particular retreat to these places to sleep during the day.
Frequent mowing and the use of brush cutters and leaf blowers also jeopardise biodiversity in the garden: amphibians, insects and arachnids are literally shredded, whirled up or sucked in. With frequent mowing, native wild herbs disappear and insects can no longer find food. This also poses challenges for hedgehogs in their search for food. They often have to travel long and dangerous distances to build up enough fat reserves for hibernation.
Biodiversity in the garden
The home garden is not only a recreational area for people, it can also make a decisive contribution to the preservation of biodiversity.
The following aspects in the home garden can help hedgehogs and co:
- Only leave robotic lawnmowers running during the day and never leave them unattended,
- Proceed carefully and cautiously when gardening,
- Create refuges for small animals by not removing leaves, deadwood and brushwood piles or by deliberately creating them,
- planting native plants and shrubs,
- creating flowering meadows or leaving part of the meadow standing when mowing.
With a conscious approach, everyone can look after their own garden and at the same time provide a habitat for native wildlife.