Germany wants to ban night-time lawn mowing because it harms hedgehogs
Germany proposes to ban night-time lawn mowing to protect hedgehogs. Mayors of German cities believe that lawnmowers, especially robotic ones, are dangerous for these animals, writes The Guardian.
Illustrative image. Photo: vecteezy.com
The thing is, hedgehogs are nocturnal creatures, and when they sense danger, they don't run away but curl into a ball. Because of this, lawnmower sensors often cannot recognize them, and the animals get injured by the blades.
Claudia Kalisch, a representative of the German Federation of Cities, noted that cities are increasingly becoming a habitat for wild animals as their natural environment shrinks. Therefore, a ban on the night-time use of mowers seems like a logical protective measure.
According to available data, the number of hedgehogs worldwide has decreased by at least 30% in the last decade. Since 2024, they have been included in the red list as an endangered species.
Besides lawnmowers, leaf blowers also pose a danger to hedgehogs, especially when the animals are hibernating. A large number of hedgehogs also die under the wheels of cars.
Scientists from Oxford University, together with Danish colleagues, conducted a study and found that hedgehogs hear ultrasound. This could help deter them from roads using special sounds.
In addition, researchers created hedgehog models using 3D printing to work with manufacturers to develop a certification system for "hedgehog-safe" lawnmowers. According to scientists, injuries from such devices place a heavy burden on animal rescue centers, and injured hedgehogs are often only found days or weeks later, by which time they are already suffering greatly.
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