Nighttime robot lawn mowers spark debate over wildlife safety in Germany

Germany’s quiet suburbs hide a growing danger: silent robots turning lawns into death traps for animals. Will lawmakers act before it’s too late?

, and Administrator

2025 November 30 . 3:37 AM

1 min read

In this picture, we see tractors which are in orange color are parked in the garden. At the bottom... — In this picture, we see tractors which are in orange color are parked in the garden. At the bottom of the picture, we see the grass. There are many vehicles in the background. We even see an umbrella tents in green, blue and white color. There are trees and buildings in the background. On the right side, we see two men standing in the garden. At the top of the picture, we see the sky.

Nighttime robot lawn mowers spark debate over wildlife safety in Germany

A petition calling for a nighttime ban on autonomous lawnmowers has ignited debate in Lower Saxony’s state parliament. With over 6,600 signatures, the proposal aims to safeguard nocturnal animals from deadly collisions. Despite widespread political backing, no concrete decisions have been made yet.

The public hearing saw lawmakers from various parties endorsing the ban in principle. Many concurred that autonomous mowers pose a significant threat to hedgehogs, amphibians, and other night-active wildlife. However, discussions highlighted a lack of clear responsibility, with state, federal, and EU authorities shifting accountability among themselves.

The petition’s hearing concluded without binding results. NABU will continue pushing for legal changes while raising awareness about the risks to wildlife. For now, autonomous mowers remain unregulated at night, leaving nocturnal animals vulnerable.