No Nighttime Mowing Robots - Willingmann Supports Initiative - Germany Weighs Nighttime Ban on Robotic Lawn Mowers to Save Hedgehogs
Environment Ministers from across Germany are set to gather in Saarbrücken to discuss a range of climate protection policies. Notably, they will address the issue of robotic lawnmowers and their impact on wildlife, with a focus on protecting hedgehogs and amphibians.
The ministers will consider an initiative suggesting a nighttime operating ban on robotic lawnmowers to minimize harm to nocturnal animals. This comes after Saxony-Anhalt's city of Halle implemented a general decree prohibiting their use between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. The state's Environment Minister, Armin Willingmann, supports this measure and believes it's sensible for municipalities to restrict operating hours.
The conference will also explore alternative technical safeguards, such as digital animal detection systems, to complement a potential nighttime ban. However, no German cities have yet officially introduced a night ban specifically for robotic lawnmowers, and there are no current plans for federal-level implementation.
The Conference of Environment Ministers aims to find a balance between modern convenience and wildlife protection. They will discuss the potential for nationwide regulations regarding robotic lawnmower operating hours, with the goal of reducing serious or fatal injuries to nocturnal animals.
