Nighttime peril with lawn mower near beech trees - Robots Mowing Grass Causing Deaths for Eels, Particularly at Night Hours
Robotic Lawn Mower Threat to Hedgehogs Increasing
Mowing robots, commonly used to maintain lawns without human intervention, have become a hazard for hedgehogs. According to Julia Stubenbord, the animal welfare officer in Baden-Württemberg, these nocturnal creatures are particularly vulnerable to the devices' blades as they do not flee but instead curl up when threatened. As a result, the number of injured hedgehogs has escalated with the increasing use of these robots.
Experts from organizations such as the BUND and Leibniz-IZW have long advocated for a nighttime ban on mowing robot operation. Cities like Cologne, Mainz, and soon, Erfurt, have already implemented this measure.
Many hedgehogs endure unnoticed pain and suffering
Last year, the Leibniz-IZW and hedgehog rescue stations reported 370 cases of hedgehogs with cut injuries from June 2022 to October 2023. Nearly half (47%) did not survive, while there is a high number of unreported cases due to injured or deceased animals often retreating to the shelter of hedges and bushes.
A significant portion of injured hedgehogs, around 60%, were found days or even weeks after the accident, Anne Berger from Leibniz-IZW stated. They would have had to endure prolonged suffering during this period. "Such animal suffering is legally prohibited if alternatives that do not inflict pain are available."
Decline in hedgehog population not solely due to robots
The modern agricultural landscape and well-manicured gardens provide insufficient habitats for hedgehogs, which, along with robotic mowers, lead to their decline. Many hedgehogs are also run over, or they struggle to find food due to the widespread reduction in insects.
Germany's European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) is on the Red List watchlist and is classified as "potentially threatened" on the international Red List of the World Conservation Union (IUCN).
Manufacturers' efforts to minimize harm
Stihl, a manufacturer, acknowledges the potential risk to hedgehogs and has made efforts to reduce injury. They have implemented daytime-only operation and user warnings to avoid mowing at night, which can harm small animals.
BUND emphasizes the question of whether a mowing robot is necessary at all. By foregoing the use of these devices, gardeners can help hedgehogs, insects, amphibians, and other animals while also promoting biodiversity if they allow their lawns to grow and bloom.
Sources:
[1] German Federal Environmental Agency (BUND)[2] Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW)[3] Navimow i Series[4] Mova 1000[5] Stihl
- The increasing use of robotic lawn mowers poses a threat to hedgehogs, regardless of the time of day they are active.
- Nocturnal hedgehogs are particularly susceptible to the blades of these mowing devices because they curl up when threatened instead of fleeing.
- As a result, the number of injured hedgehogs has risen alongside the popularization of robotic lawn mowers.
- Organization experts such as the BUND and Leibniz-IZW have advocated for a ban on nighttime operations of these mowing robots.
- Cities like Cologne, Mainz, and Erfurt have already adopted this measure to protect hedgehogs.
- Throughout last year, the Leibniz-IZW and hedgehog rescue stations documented 370 cases of hedgehogs with cut injuries from June 2022 to October 2023.
- Nearly half, 47%, of these injured hedgehogs did not survive, while the number of unreported cases remains high due to injured or deceased animals seeking shelter in hedges and bushes.
- Approximately 60% of injured hedgehogs were found days, even weeks, after the accident, suggesting they experienced prolonged suffering.
- Animal suffering should be legally prohibited if alternatives that do not cause pain are available.
- The modern agricultural landscape and well-manicured gardens offer inadequate habitats for hedgehogs, leading to their declining population.
- Other factors contributing to this decline include hedgehogs being run over, as well as struggles to find food due to reduced insect populations.
- Germany's European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) is on the Red List watchlist, classified as "potentially threatened" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
- Stihl, a mowing robot manufacturer, has recognized the potential risk to hedgehogs and implemented measures to reduce injuries.
- These efforts include daytime-only operation and user warnings to avoid mowing at night, potentially harming small animals.
- The BUND questions whether a mowing robot is truly necessary, highlighting that gardeners can help protect hedgehogs, insects, amphibians, and other animals by forgoing these devices.
- By allowing their lawns to grow and bloom, gardeners can promote biodiversity.
- The Navimow i Series, Mova 1000, and Stihl are among the brands producing robotic lawn mowers.
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