Robotic lawnmowers: How to protect hedgehogs and other animals from their blades

• Robotic lawnmowers pose a serious threat to hedgehogs and other animals living in the garden.
• It is therefore important to never operate the device after sunset, as most garden animals are active at dusk and at night.
• In addition, a so-called “apple apron” can be attached to avoid collisions with the animals.

Robotic lawnmowers work in a similar way to conventional lawnmowers with razor-sharp blades that trim the lawn to within a few millimeters. However, the blades are not only a danger to the growth of the blades of grass, but also to small animals living in the garden.

In Germany, garden fauna can be very diverse. In addition to small insects such as earthworms or crickets, many gardens are also home to small animals such as hedgehogs, birds or mice. All of these are at risk when a robotic lawnmower is working in the garden. The little animals do not always manage to escape the blades of the device in time – then their lives are in danger. It is therefore important to take appropriate precautions.

How to protect garden animals from the robotic lawnmower

Many of the animals that live in the garden, especially hedgehogs, are active at dusk and at night. They hide in their hiding places during the day and come out at night to look for food. For this reason, you should only let robotic lawnmowers work during the day and never after sunset or before sunrise. This can be set in the relevant apps.

In some cases it is also worth purchasing a so-called “apple apron” – this is an additional rubber edge that is primarily intended to protect the blades from fallen apples, but is also suitable for protecting garden animals. The corresponding accessories are available from manufacturers or third-party suppliers for a few dollars.

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