Robotic mowers, string mowers, lawn trimmers and disc scythes are a great danger to hedgehogs in our gardens. As robotic mowers cannot distinguish between the edge of the lawn and hedgehogs, they often run over small hedgehogs in particular. They are regularly seriously or even fatally injured due to their protective mechanism of curling up. Injured animals often retreat into hiding places and die there without us noticing. Injuring hedgehogs with robotic lawnmowers is a violation of the ban on injuring and killing under the Federal Nature Conservation Act (Section 44 (1) No. 1 BNatSchG).
Humans are the main threat to hedgehogs. Due to the structural impoverishment of the landscape and intensive agriculture and forestry, hedgehogs are now mostly only found in residential areas. As hedgehogs are dependent on a structurally rich environment with sufficient food and hiding places, they are mainly found in near-natural gardens and parks. Another problem here is the fragmentation of their habitats by roads. In Germany alone, half a million hedgehogs die on the roads every year.
The hedgehog-friendly garden
How do I recognize a hedgehog in distress?
The removal of hedgehogs from the wild is generally prohibited. Only individuals really in need of care may be taken in, but it should be ensured that the hedgehog is really in need. Those in need of help are orphaned baby hedgehogs, sick or injured animals, small and light young animals at the onset of winter or active animals in winter when temperatures are cold. If you find a hedgehog in need of help, you should contact the nearest hedgehog rescue center, where experienced and knowledgeable people can take care of the hedgehog.
Protection status in Germany
The population of this formerly common species has steadily declined in recent decades, with the result that the Western European hedgehog has been on the German Red List and protected since 2020. Hedgehogs are specially protected under the Federal Species Protection Ordinance (BArtSchV). Accordingly, it is prohibited to pursue, capture, injure or kill them or to remove, damage or destroy their developmental forms and nests from the wild.
Interesting facts about the hedgehog
Western European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) can grow up to 30 centimetres long and weigh 1.5 kilograms. They feed mainly on insects (especially beetles), earthworms and earwigs as well as snails and spiders. As hedgehogs are nocturnal and crepuscular, they like to hide in piles of leaves, under hedges and in bushes during the day. Hedgehogs hibernate from around mid-November to March and are dependent on safe hiding places. Their spiny coat consists of an average of 5,000 to 7,000 horny hairs - their characteristic spines. In case of danger, hedgehogs do not flee but curl up into a ball, which is an effective protection against predators.