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Animals many dangers in their daily lives. These climate change, habitat loss, and pollution. Mayors in Germany have a new danger – robot lawn mowers. These the small machines that automatically go up and down people's gardens to the grass. German mayors say the devices are hedgehogs and other small animals, especially at night. The cities of Munich and Cologne have a night-time ban on the use of the lawn mowers. However, officials a nationwide ban. Hedgehogs are particularly at risk. They up into a ball when they sense danger. This it more difficult for a robot mower's sensors to detect a curled-up hedgehog.

Hedgehogs are under German law. People who , trap, or kill them could get a fine of up to €65,000 ($75,000). The animals have on the "near threatened" list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature since 2024. This is because their numbers by over 30 per cent in the previous decade. Mayor Claudia Kalisch has lawn mower makers to do more to protect hedgehogs. She said: "We are on manufacturers to find solutions to that small animals are no longer by robot lawn mowers." She added: "This a key step towards protecting animals and the quality of life in the city through biodiversity."