Night driving ban for robotic lawnmowers: Protect our hedgehog in the Neu-Ulm district!

Night driving ban for robotic lawnmowers: Protect our hedgehog in the Neu-Ulm district!

In the discussion about the protection of hedgehogs, which are currently threatened in many parts of Germany, the use of robots plays a crucial role. As the Augsburger Allgemeine are a considerable danger to the nocturnal animals, since they are in the main activity time Dawn and at night, grazing through gardens. In the Neu-Ulm district in particular, some municipalities have targeted the night driving ban for robotic lawnmowers to protect the hedgehogs. The city of Vöhringen has already made an inquiry to the district office, but received a negative answer. In Weißenhorn, on the other hand, the city council campaigned for a night driving ban and decided after discussions about an application by the Greens.

The problem is not limited to Baden-Württemberg. A look beyond the borders reveals that cities like Cologne and Düsseldorf also think about a driving ban for robotic lawnmowers, while in other regions such as Nuthetal and Borkheide in Brandenburg, such regulations already exist. A recommendation stipulates that the robotic lawnmowers should not be operated between 30 minutes before sunset and 30 minutes after sunrise, as the Test.de . This would help the hinges to find better protection options at dusk.

dangers from robotic lawnmowers

Around the hedgehog population, which is currently considered declining and has already been placed on the pre-warning list of the Red List for Germany in 2020, scientists from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research are calling for stricter requirements for robotic lawnmower manufacturers. The expert Anne Berger demands binding security tests at the European level.

tips for animal -friendly gardening

A natural garden is one of the best ways to protect hedgehogs. The Test.de recommended to leave corners in the garden with high grass and to lay down dead wood or compost heaps. These serve not only as a habitat for hedgehogs, but also as a source of food. In addition, gardens should be made accessible to the animals by holes in the fence (about 10 × 10 cm).

If you still want to use a robotic lawnmower, remember that mowing should take place in two steps: first shorten the area to 20 cm and then search for hidden animals. In addition, robotic lawnmowers with centrifugal force, which fold away when obstacles are folded away, are a safer option than those with fixed blades.

The discussion about the protection of the hedgehog shows that it must be taken to ensure the survival of these fascinating animals. Municipalities and citizens are asked to take responsibility and to find an animal -friendly solution together.