Residents Call for Enforcement of Noise Ordinances Against Late-Night Lawn Mowing - Municipalities seek restrictions on nighttime robot harvesting operations
In an effort to safeguard hedgehogs, several municipalities in Sachsen-Anhalt are working on introducing a nighttime ban for lawn mowers. A survey by the Deutsche Presse-Agentur revealed that Halle and Magdeburg are among the first to issue such ordinances.
The measures aim primarily to protect the European hedgehog, whose population has been declining for decades. According to a spokesperson for the city of Halle, this nighttime operating ban is a significant contribution to species protection, also benefiting ground frogs. The proposed ban only applies to nighttime hours, ensuring it doesn't impose an excessive burden on city administration, as per city spokesperson Drago Bock.
Similarly, Mayor Simone Borris of Magdeburg supports the nighttime ban to shield hedgehogs and small animals. The ordinance is based on a city council initiative and is set to be issued shortly.
While many municipalities rely on citizens' consideration, others express caution. Local authorities such as Anhalt-Bitterfeld and Dessau-Roßlau appeal to individual responsibility, assuming most residents appreciate the benefits of hedgehogs for their garden and take responsibility for their protection. The municipality of Tangerhütte points out that enforcing such controls would be challenging.
Despite this, several municipalities claim that no incidents of hedgehogs being injured by lawn mowers have been reported, leaving no basis for a general ordinance. Cities like Cologne and Leipzig have occasionally issued nighttime driving bans for lawn mowers.
Advocates for animal and nature protection argue that lawn mowers pose a danger to garden animals. Hedgehogs, lizards, and others can be injured or killed by the rotating blades of these devices. For hedgehogs, who curl up instead of fleeing when in danger, such encounters can be perilous.
If worldwide implementation is considered, there is no extensive global adoption of nighttime bans on lawn mowing specifically for hedgehog protection. However, organizations like Nabu in Saxony are advocating such measures, such as banning robot mowers during nocturnal hours. As awareness about hedgehog conservation grows, there may be more widespread adoption of such protective measures in the future.
In line with the growing concern for environmental-science, various municipalities in Saxony are considering the implementation of community policy that focuses on vocational training programs for city employees, ensuring they can effectively enforce the new protective measures for endangered species such as hedgehogs. Simultaneously, these municipalities encourage home-and-garden enthusiasts to implement lifestyle changes, such as reducing grass cutting during nighttime hours, as a means to contribute to environmental-science and support the survival of the European hedgehog population.
