Ban robotic lawnmowers after hedgehog injuries, urges Norwegian animal welfare group

An animal welfare organization in Norway is demanding a complete ban on robotic lawnmowers, citing severe injuries inflicted upon hedgehogs. Arken Dyrevern, based in Myking, Alver municipality, reports that each year they receive several hedgehogs that have been maimed by these automated garden tools.

Miriam Mæland, an animal welfare advocate with the organization, stated that hedgehogs experience pain similarly to humans. "When it can maim an animal, it cannot be legal," she asserted, emphasizing that the injuries are not always fatal but often lead to prolonged suffering and death from pain. The organization's volunteers work to care for these injured animals.

Mæland's plea is for a total prohibition, arguing that any device capable of such harm to wildlife should not be permitted. The group highlights the distress these machines cause, noting that the animals "suffer and they scream."

The call for a ban underscores a growing concern about the impact of increasingly common automated devices on local wildlife. While robotic lawnmowers offer convenience to homeowners, their operation poses a significant risk to small, ground-dwelling animals like hedgehogs, which are often active during the times these mowers operate.