Danger of mortality imminent in Thuringia!
In the picturesque gardens of Thuringia, Germany, the convenience of automatic lawn mowers has become a common sight. However, a growing concern about the potential risks these machines pose to small animals has emerged, particularly in the city of Jena.
According to the city's environmental protection department, the use of automatic lawn mowers may lead to sometimes fatal consequences for small animals. The primary dangers stem from the mowers' inability to detect small pets or the unpredictable movements of wildlife, which can result in injury or death.
Despite built-in safety features such as collision and lift sensors, small animals can sometimes be too small or move unpredictably, causing the mower to inadvertently bump into or injure them. Furthermore, if sensors become dirty or malfunction, the mower may not stop in time to avoid accidents.
For wildlife in gardens, small animals such as hedgehogs, birds, amphibians, or insects native to Thuringia might be vulnerable if left unsupervised with robotic mowers. Since these devices lack perfect animal detection, there is a concern that the mower could injure or kill small fauna if present during operation.
To mitigate risks, the city of Jena urges garden owners to operate mowers when small animals are less active, such as during the day for nocturnal animals. Regular inspection and maintenance of sensor systems are also essential to reduce risks. Physical barriers or restricted zones can help protect sensitive areas, such as pond-dwelling creatures or ground-nesting species.
It is worth noting that robotic mowers are high-value equipment, and theft risk is also a concern in residential areas. However, this is a security issue rather than an animal safety concern.
Hedgehogs, being a potentially endangered species, are under special protection. Veterinary practices and wildlife stations in Thuringia regularly report severe injuries or deaths caused by home lawn mowers. The press office states that automatic lawn mowers pose a serious threat to hedgehogs, amphibians, and other small animals.
In summary, while robotic mowers are designed with various safety features and have become safer over time, there remain notable dangers to small animals due to imperfect obstacle detection and the autonomous nature of these machines. To protect small wildlife in Thuringia’s gardens, it is recommended to operate mowers when small animals are less active, regularly inspect and maintain sensor systems, use physical barriers or restricted zones to protect sensitive areas, and avoid unsupervised operation if small pets or wildlife are present outdoors.
In Thuringia, Germany, the use of automatic lawn mowers could potentially harm small animals due to their imperfect animal detection and autonomous operation. To protect small wildlife in Thuringia’s gardens, it is recommended to operate mowers during times when small animals are less active, regularly inspect and maintain sensor systems, use physical barriers or restricted zones to protect sensitive areas, and avoid unsupervised operation if small pets or wildlife are present outdoors.
