Animals face many dangers every day. These include climate change, habitat loss, and pollution. Mayors in Germany have found a new danger — robot lawn mowers. These are machines that automatically cut the grass in people's gardens. The mayors say the mowers are killing hedgehogs and other small animals. Two cities have started a night-time ban on using the lawn mowers. However, other mayors want a nationwide ban. Hedgehogs are at risk. They curl up into a ball when there is danger. This makes it more difficult for a robot mower's sensors to detect a hedgehog.

German law protects hedgehogs. People who injure, trap, or kill them could get a $75,000 fine. The animals have been on the "near threatened" list since 2024. This is because their numbers dropped by over 30 per cent in the previous 10 years. One German mayor asked lawn mower makers to do more to protect hedgehogs. She said: "We are calling on manufacturers to find solutions to ensure that small animals are no longer endangered by robot lawn mowers." She added: "This is a key step towards protecting animals and enriching the quality of life in the city through biodiversity."