Raccoon Damage

 

More and more, raccoons are causing problems in Japan. Raccoons are not native to Japan, even though they resemble the tanuki, which is native to Japan, but not related to the North American raccoon. 

The first raccoon in the wild in Japan was one that escaped from the Inuyama Zoo in 1962. The main introduction of raccoons to Japan was in the 1970’s through the pet trade, after the popularity of the TV cartoon series, Rascal the Raccoon. 

Raccoon damage is rising sharply all across Japan, with agricultural losses at 700 million yen (4.4 million USD) a year. In addition to damage to agricultural crops, the damage in urban areas is increasing. The animals are eating goldfish from garden ponds and breaking into attics. People are urged not to approach or to feed the animals. Officials report that vacant houses where raccoons can breed are expanding their habitats. The population of the animals is growing so rapidly that it is becoming impossible to keep them under control. Officials say the number of raccoons must be reduced in order to limit the damage.