Erfurt protects hedgehogs: New night driving ban for Morava.

Erfurt protects hedgehogs: New night driving ban for Morava.

Erfurt, Deutschland - A new ban causes a stir in Erfurt and could soon find imitators in other cities. Since July 2, 2025, it has been prohibited in the Thuringian state capital to operate robotic lawnmowers during the night. The aim of this measure is to protect igars and other nocturnal animals that are increasingly occurring in the urban areas. As thueringen24.de , these devices may now not be used half an hour after sunrise. If you violate this, you have to expect sensitive fines of up to 50,000 euros.

The Environment and Nature Conservation Office of Erfurt explains that Igel has increasingly been spotted in urban areas and outskirts in recent years. These animals are not only particularly protected, but also valuable help in the garden, as they contribute to combating pests. Nevertheless, they are in great danger due to the robotic lawnmower. These devices do not recognize the small animals and can easily cause injuries that often fatal.

a wave of imitations?

The effects of the ban in Erfurt could be far -reaching. In cities such as Cologne, Leipzig, Halle and Magdeburg there are efforts to introduce similar regulations to protect hedgehogs and other endangered animal species. Like zdf.de , Moravi are a great danger, especially for hedgehogs that are looking for food at night. In Leipzig, such devices violate around 400 hedgehogs annually, of which around 10 % die from the consequences of their injuries.

A challenge remains the control of the ban, because many cities are unsure how to enforce them. The recommendation of the federal government (Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation Germany) is particularly noteworthy to establish a nationwide night driving ban for robotic lawnmowers. These measures could not only protect hedgehogs, but also strengthen awareness of nature conservation in urban areas.

The protection of the hedgehogs

animal rights activists urgently warn that robotic lawnmowers are a significant threat to the hedgehog population. As rbb24.de , the habitats of the hedgehogs in rural areas have therefore been very destroyed, and the animals have therefore withdrawn in urban areas. Here you need varied landscapes with hedges and meadows for food and reproduction, which can no longer be found in many gardens.

The robotic lawnmowers are often technically not mature in such a way that they can recognize the hedgehogs as a danger. Many manufacturers only indicate the responsibility of consumers without offering practical solutions. The federal government therefore not only calls for a night driving ban, but also proposes test robots testing to ensure that they are small animal -safe. A hedgehog dummy for crash tests could help to better check the safety of these devices.

A look at the number of injured hedgehogs illustrates the urgency of the situation: In 70 hedgehog and wildlife catchment stations, several hundred injured animals were documented over a period of 16 months, of which almost half could not be saved because they received help too late. This shows how important the awareness of the protection of hesemen and compliance with night driving bans is.

A good knack for dealing with robots and compliance with rules could not only protect the small prickly friends, but also promote conscious cooperation between technology and nature.