Reader's Correspondence: City's Financial Document for Animal and Environmental Welfare Regulation
Article:
Marie Winter, a passionate animal advocate, penned a letter to the city council of Ingolstadt, Germany, expressing her concern over the welfare of hedgehogs in local gardens. The letter follows a discussion where the council members failed to address the problem of hedgehog injuries caused by mowing robots and string trimmers.
Ms. Winter shared graphic images of injured hedgehogs in her letter, emphasizing the lack of safe sensors in current gardening equipment. She noted that for over a decade, animal welfare associations and care facilities have been writing letters to manufacturers and legislators, yet no significant changes have been made. In 2024, the EU established a working group with plans to eventually ban such devices, but the delay has resulted in the loss of countless amphibians, insects, and mammals. Other cities, such as Cologne, Koblenz, Mainz, Düsseldorf, Neuss, and small communities, have already implemented bans on the use of such equipment, but Ingolstadt appears to be oblivious to this issue.
In the letter, Ms. Winter questions the standard that some elected officials claim to uphold, as they ignore the suffering of hedgehogs under their care. She also criticizes the lack of objective handling of the topic by city council members. A compromise, she believes, is unthinkable, and she suggests inviting an expert to the discussion to address the matter more effectively.
Ms. Winter proposes an information campaign on voluntary night mowing, but she emphasizes that this is not a sufficient solution. She suggests a complete ban on the use of mowing robots and string trimmers in gardens, similar to the practices in other cities. To back her claims, Ms. Winter provides examples of how football pitches and gardens have been maintained in the past without the use of self-driving support, resulting in fewer injuries.
Ms. Winter concludes her letter by expressing her willingness to give another public hedgehog lecture, hoping to foster a more proactive approach towards animal welfare in Ingolstadt. According to German animal protection law, anyone who knowingly causes harm to an animal without a justifiable reason is already committing a crime. However, the lack of action by city council members indicates a disregard for this law.
The issue of hedgehog injuries in gardens is a pressing concern, as these small, spiny mammals frequently fall victim to gardening equipment. While some communities focus on education campaigns and alternative gardening methods, a ban on such devices might be the most effective solution to protect local wildlife. By working together, cities can create a safer environment for hedgehogs and other animals that call our gardens home.
Ms. Winter advocates for a ban on mowing robots and string trimmers in gardens, as these devices have been causing injuries to hedgehogs, and other cities have already implemented such bans. She further suggests an information campaign on voluntary night mowing as a temporary solution, but believes it is insufficient. In her letter, she also argues that focusing on environmental-science and adopting lifestyle changes that are friendly to home-and-garden wildlife is crucial for promoting a healthier coexistence between humans and animals.
