Raccoons in Europe (Germany)

Abstract

The raccoon is a half-bear native to North America. It’s an omnivore that can reach a weight of some nine kg and a body length of 70 cm. Its black face mask and long tail are characteristics that make the animal unique in appearance and easy to identify. Another distinctive feature is the raccoon’s very dexterous front paws.

Since introduction in 1934, the raccoon population in Germany has grown by 12–17% annually, now numbering around a million. It's an opportunistic consumer that eats what's plentiful, from small rodents, birds, and fish to amphibians, mollusks, and insects. The question of ecological effects is intensively debated, but there is, so far, little or no scientific data that shows any significant negative effects of raccoon predation on any native species. Food competition doesn't seem to be a big problem for any native predator either, as the raccoon shifts to something else when one of its food sources gets sparse. In cities and suburbs, the raccoon can cause significant economic damage. The population forecast is for a continued increase in numbers and geographic spread. Urban populations constitute a growing problem with fecal and urine contamination of the places the animals select for their “communal toilets.”