Animals face many dangers their daily lives. These include climate change, habitat loss, and pollution. Mayors Germany have highlighted a new danger – robot lawn mowers. These are the small machines that automatically go and down people's gardens to cut the grass. German mayors say the devices are killing hedgehogs and other small animals, especially night. The cities Munich and Cologne have started a night-time ban the use of the lawn mowers. However, officials want a nationwide ban. Hedgehogs are particularly risk. They curl into a ball when they sense danger. This makes it more difficult a robot mower's sensors to detect a curled-up hedgehog.
Hedgehogs are protected German law. People who injure, trap, or kill them could get a fine of to €65,000 ($75,000). The animals have been the "near threatened" list the International Union Conservation of Nature since 2024. This is because their numbers dropped over 30 per cent the previous decade. Mayor Claudia Kalisch has asked lawn mower makers to do more to protect hedgehogs. She said: "We are calling manufacturers to find solutions to ensure that small animals are no longer endangered robot lawn mowers." She added: "This is a key step towards protecting animals and enriching the quality life in the city biodiversity."
