Raccoon plague in Ascot: Hunter calls for the closed season to be lifted!

Raccoon plague in Ascot: Hunter calls for the closed season to be lifted!

The raccoons have really spread in Germany. This can also be felt in Baden-Württemberg, as a hunting report shows. Thomas Müller, an experienced hunter from the region, leaves his house early this morning to check a trap for raccoons. He placed the prison at the “Pass”, a popular passage for small-time robbers. If a raccoon gets into the trap, it will receive an SMS notification. But we already know this: The raccoon population has been growing rapidly since the first specimens were released in Hesse 90 years ago.

A look at the statistics from the last hunting season shows that the numbers are increasing alarmingly. In the 2022/2023 season, 6,322 raccoons were shot, and in the next season there were already 9,174. The furry intruders are killed particularly frequently in the Ostalbkreis, Rems-Murr-Kreis and Schwäbisch Hall districts. However, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, the exact number of raccoons in Baden-Württemberg is unknown. The fact is: Raccoons not only cause noise and dirt, they also raid garbage cans and seek shelter in buildings.

Hunting as species protection

Müller sees his hunting as a necessary part of species protection. The goal is to protect other species, such as squirrels and even endangered amphibians. There is currently a closed season for raccoons in Baden-Württemberg, which runs from July 1st to February 15th. However, the hunters are calling for this closed season to be lifted - with the exception of the protection of mother animals. Wildlife biologist Norbert Peter also does not believe that raccoons can be driven out of the country, which makes the importance of hunting all the more crucial.

The problem surrounding raccoons is not only expressed locally. The German Hunting Association points out the increasing spread of raccoons in Germany. Current surveys show that in 2023, 69 percent of hunting areas recorded the presence of these animals, which represents an increase of almost 75 percent since 2011. In a survey that covered 24,084 territories, the dynamic increase in raccoon populations in Baden-Württemberg cannot be overlooked. Food waste and the disturbed balance of biodiversity are just some of the challenges that arise from this.

The need for trap hunting

According to the German Hunting Association, trapping is an essential means of keeping the invasive species at bay. Catching methods, such as the use of live traps, should be better supported. Banned methods, such as trapping in Berlin, are up for discussion because they are considered counterproductive to species protection. Scientific studies also show that raccoons often prey on amphibians such as toads and frogs during their mating season, leading to a decline in these species in certain regions.

The problem of invasive species is taken seriously worldwide. A report by the World Biodiversity Council (IPBES) highlights that invasive animals such as raccoons pose a threat to biodiversity. The global cost of the negative impacts of invasive species was already more than $423 billion in 2019, and this amount is quadrupling every decade.

In summary, raccoons represent not only a regional but also a national challenge. Hopefully, with a combination of responsible hunting and political support, solutions can be found to maintain the balance between people and nature and protect local wildlife.