Mowing robots are a danger for hedgehogs

In spring, many people start working in their gardens. They cut the lawn. This is also called mowing. They clear away the leaves and dig beds. Many people use a robotic mower for this. Robotic mowers are small electric devices that mow the lawn on their own. Robotic mowers have sharp blades and are often very quiet. Hedgehogs, frogs and other animals on the ground cannot hear them. Hedgehogs also curl up into a ball when they are frightened. Robotic mowers injure many hedgehogs and other animals. The injuries are serious or even fatal. Hedgehogs do not scream when they are injured. They can die from their injury if they are not found.

Monika Grimm works at the veterinary office of the City of Offenbach. The veterinary office is also responsible for protecting animals. The veterinary office says: "More and more injured and sick hedgehogs are being handed in at the forest zoo in Offenbach. Many were injured by robotic mowers.

From September 2024 to March 2025, the forest zoo received 220 hedgehogs. They were all found sick or injured by citizens in the city of Offenbach. 36 hedgehogs were injured by robotic mowers.

The Veterinary Office asks that robotic mowers only be used during the day. Hedgehogs sleep during the day and are awake at night. Before mowing, you should walk over the lawn and check that there are no animals there. There are robotic mowers that are not a danger to animals. The blades of these robotic mowers react on contact and collapse.

Garden owners can help hedgehogs in the garden. They can put water out for the animals and should not use poison. They can place leaves and small branches in a pile in a corner. Hedgehogs like to sleep there. And just let grass and plants grow in some places. In the fall and winter, you should leave leaves and foliage on the beds. Many insects will survive there and hedgehogs will eat them in spring.