In a move that has left hobbyists in a spin and geese in a flap, Belgium has issued a blanket ban on Roomba racing following reports of avian anxiety caused by the whirring wheels of these robotic speedsters. The decision, announced by the Royal Society for the Protection of Belgian Birds (RSPBB), has sparked outrage among enthusiasts and raised questions about the intersection of technology and wildlife welfare.

Roomba racing, a burgeoning subculture that combines the thrill of motorsports with the convenience of household chores, has gained a cult following in recent years, with adrenaline junkies flocking to makeshift tracks in basements and garages to pit their robotic vacuums against one another in a battle for supremacy. But the once-thriving scene has hit a speed bump in Belgium, where concerned citizens have reported sightings of startled geese fleeing in terror at the sight of speeding Roombas.

”It’s a quackdown on our freedom to race,” lamented Hans Vanderbeek, president of the Belgian Roomba Racing Association, as he staged a protest outside the RSPBB headquarters, brandishing a homemade sign that read “Honk if you love Roomba racing.” “These geese need to toughen up. If they can’t handle a little noise, they should stick to waddling around in ponds.”

But wildlife experts paint a different picture, citing studies that show geese are easily startled by sudden movements and loud noises, particularly during mating season. “The sight and sound of Roombas zipping around at breakneck speeds can be deeply distressing for geese, causing them to abandon their nests and disrupt their natural behavior,” explained Dr. Henrietta Feathers, an ornithologist at the University of Brussels. “We have a duty to protect our feathered friends from unnecessary stress and anxiety.”

The ban, which goes into effect immediately, prohibits the use of Roombas for racing purposes within Belgian borders and imposes hefty fines on offenders caught flouting the law. Violators face penalties of up to 10,000 euros and the confiscation of their robotic vacuums, which will be repurposed for more peaceful pursuits such as household cleaning and cat entertainment.

But despite the crackdown, some die-hard enthusiasts refuse to be grounded. Reports have emerged of underground Roomba racing circuits springing up in secret locations across the country, with rebels and renegades defying the ban in the name of sport and camaraderie. “They can take away our Roombas, but they can’t take away our need for speed,” declared one anonymous racer, his voice muffled by the whirring of vacuum motors in the background.

As the battle between man and machine rages on, one thing is clear: the Roomba racing community is not going down without a fight. Whether they’ll emerge victorious or end up on the wrong side of the law remains to be seen. But for now, the geese of Belgium can rest a little easier knowing that their skies are free from the menace of robot racers—at least for the time being.