“Hedgehogs die by robotic mowers” – Kortrijk councilor Groen asks for a ban

Councilor Cathy Matthieu takes care of seven baby hedgehogs. One of them even took them to the city council. She had to feed it because the mama is no longer there. And she does that every three hours.

“They are eaten by maggots”

The small coconut weighed less than 24 grams when the Flemish Relief Center for Birds and Wild Animals in Beernem called in Cathy. He now weighs over 80 grams. The big enemy of the animals are robotic lawnmowers, although many manufacturers say they have animal-friendly ones.

“Those mowing robots give the hedgehogs wounds. Maggots get in those wounds. They are eaten alive by the maggots or they get diphtheria, which is a hedgehog disease that develops in the wound,” explains Cathy.

She therefore asks for a ban on the robots at night. The city council will now launch an awareness campaign, a ban is difficult because enforcement is not obvious.