Greifswald restricts robotic lawnmowers: protection for hedgehogs at risk!

Greifswald restricts robotic lawnmowers: protection for hedgehogs at risk!

In Greifswald, protecting hedgehogs is getting serious: the citizens have agreed to stop the night-time use of robotic lawnmowers. This decision does not come from heaven - it is the result of the motion “Animal-friendly Greifswald: Protect the hedgehog population”, submitted by the “Alternative List*Animal Protection*PARTY” faction. The main focus here is on the dangers for nocturnal hedgehogs, who often fall victim to automated devices when working in the garden. Robert Gabel from the Human Environment Animal Welfare Party explained that many older robotic lawnmowers do not have reliable sensors and therefore there is a risk that hedgehogs will not be noticed in time. This not only leads to injuries, but also puts a financial strain on animal welfare: According to Gabel, four million euros would have to be spent on hedgehog care in Germany, without taking veterinary costs into account.

How can you help hedgehogs? One of the measures is to ban the operation of these garden tools at night. This is particularly welcomed by animal and nature conservationists who are campaigning for greater consideration for wild animals. Critics such as AfD parliamentary group leader Nikolaus Kramer, however, argue that instead of further bans, it is necessary to raise awareness among garden owners. He has owned a robotic lawnmower since last year and is critical of the control of such laws.

A guide for other cities

But the topic is not only attracting attention in Greifswald. Similar regulations already apply in other cities, including Cologne, Leipzig and Mainz. Mowing at night will be prohibited here from autumn 2024 in order to protect the population of the European hedgehog, whose numbers have declined sharply in recent years. The cities of Halle and Magdeburg in Saxony-Anhalt have also spoken out in favor of such bans. This shows that political interest in effective species protection is high.

Experts argue that without night driving bans, biodiversity in our residential areas will come under further pressure. Low-noise robotic lawnmowers that drive through gardens unnoticed are particularly problematic for animals that are active at dusk and at night. The German Nature Conservation Association (NABU) has already warned that devices without sensors in particular pose a high risk to wildlife.

The way forward

After the votes were counted in Greifswald, a clear result emerged: 27 votes for the ban, 5 against, all from the AfD, and five abstentions. The administration has now been commissioned to develop a legal framework for the night driving ban and to let the citizens vote on it. Dr. Thomas Kerath from the SPD confirmed that the injured hedgehogs represent a problem that needs to be addressed urgently.

The developments in Greifswald can serve as a model for other cities. In Maisach near Munich, the local council has already approved a night-time driving ban for municipal robotic lawnmowers. The question remains how effectively such regulations can be enforced, especially in communities that have a less clear stance on robotic lawnmowers operating at night.

Overall, the advance in Greifswald is a small but decisive step towards a more animal-friendly future. The measures decided there could take on a pioneering role in species protection and encourage other municipalities to do similar things.