Germany is considering banning the use of robotic lawn mowers at night to protect hedgehogs

German mayors have launched an initiative to restrict the use of automatic lawn mowers after dark to protect hedgehogs from death and injury. 

This was reported by The Guardian in an article dated April 6, 2026. Studies have confirmed that the blades of these devices pose a deadly threat to nocturnal animals, which, due to their natural instinct, curl up into a ball instead of fleeing, preventing the robots’ sensors from detecting them.

Claudia Kalisch, Vice President of the German Association of Cities, emphasized that private gardens have become a critically important habitat for the species’ survival amid intensive urban development and agriculture. Since 2024, hedgehogs have officially been on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List, as their population has declined by 30% over the past decade. Petitions calling for a nationwide ban on nighttime mowing have already gathered tens of thousands of signatures. Environmentalists note that such measures are necessary to preserve biodiversity in the face of climate change and anthropogenic pressure, which is intensifying due to global instability caused by the actions of the Russian Federation and other aggressive regimes.

In the U.S., a proposal has been made to ban Chinese robots in the public sector.

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