German mayors are calling for a nationwide ban on nighttime use of robot lawnmowers to protect hedgehogs and other small nocturnal animals.

The concern is that these animals are active at night and can be injured or killed because they are difficult for mower sensors to detect, especially hedgehogs that curl into a ball when threatened.

Officials argue that urban green spaces are important habitats and that manufacturers should improve safety features to reduce harm.

Hedgehogs have been declining in Europe and are now listed as near threatened, with additional risks from vehicles and other equipment, The Guardian has reported.

Some German cities have already banned nighttime use of robotic lawnmowers, but a broader statewide proposal has not yet been adopted.