Japan still struggling with invasive raccoon population decades after introducing them to the country

Japan is facing a growing raccoon infestation that has caused significant damage to the environment and local crops. According to reports from multiple Japanese news sources, the number of raccoons captured in the country has increased dramatically over the past decade.

In the 2022 fiscal year, nearly 1,300 raccoons were captured by Tokyo’s government, which is five times more than the number captured 10 years ago. This surge in raccoon population can be traced back to the 1970s when raccoons were brought to Japan following the popularity of the 1977 anime “Rascal the Raccoon.”

Initially imported as pets, raccoons quickly became unmanageable for many families due to their destructive behavior and expensive care requirements. Unable to care for them any longer, many families released their pet raccoons into the wild, where they were able to establish a population with no natural predators.

The raccoon invasion has not only caused damage to the environment but has also wreaked havoc on Japan’s agricultural industry. In 2022 alone, raccoons were responsible for causing nearly $3 million in damage to crops, according to Kyodo News.

Efforts to combat the raccoon infestation have proven to be challenging due to the animals’ intelligent nature. Local trapping efforts and immediate reporting of damage have been ineffective in controlling the population. Officials from municipalities in western Tokyo have reported that their traps are often broken by desperate raccoons, making it difficult to capture them and assess their overall range.

Japan is not the only country dealing with invasive raccoons. In Germany, raccoons were imported in the 1930s for their fur and released into the wild, where they also established a population. Reports from Germany have included raccoons entering homes, making a mess, and even stealing beer. In a bizarre incident in 2019, a drunk raccoon visited a Christmas market in Erfurt and was shot dead by a hunter after reportedly consuming leftover mulled wine.

The growing raccoon infestation in Japan and other countries serves as a reminder of the unintended consequences of introducing non-native species into new environments. As efforts to control the raccoon population continue, authorities are faced with the challenge of balancing environmental conservation with the need to protect local crops and communities from the damage caused by these invasive animals.