Mayors across Germany are advocating for a nationwide ban on the nighttime use of robot lawnmowers to protect hedgehogs and other small nocturnal animals from injury or death. Recent studies indicate that the blades of these mowers pose a significant threat to wildlife that is active during dusk and dawn. Claudia Kalisch, the vice-president of the German federation of cities and mayor of Lüneburg, emphasized the importance of green spaces for wildlife, particularly as urban development encroaches on their natural habitats. Hedgehogs, which tend to curl into a ball when threatened, are particularly at risk as they are harder for robotic sensors to detect. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed hedgehogs as 'near threatened' due to a decline of at least 30% in their population over the past decade. In addition to robot lawnmowers, other equipment like motorized leaf blowers also poses risks to these animals. Some cities, including Cologne, Leipzig, and Munich, have already banned nighttime mower use, but broader legislative efforts have faced challenges. Experts are also exploring technological solutions to deter hedgehogs from dangerous areas, including the use of sonic repellers and the development of 'hedgehog-friendly' mowers.