Procyon lotor

About

Hungry raccoon at Wildlife Park Hellenthal

Originally native to North America, the Common Raccoon (German: Waschbär - Washing Bear) is slowly taking over Europe as an invasive species. The "doglike" (Procyon) animal was imported to several countries as a domesticated animal harvested for its pelts but made it into the wild in Europe in the 1930s. In 2012 there was believed to be a population of over 1 million common raccoons in Germany and it has been growing exponentially.

Raccoons are typical synanthropes, meaning they like to live near humans and can easily feed on food scraps, dog food, bird feed and whatever they find in your garden or backyard. As an invasive species they pose a risk for the local bird population because as omnivores living in trees they like stealing bird eggs. There is a debate however, if their damage can even be compared to the damage common house cats (Felis catus) do in nature. After all raccoons won't hunt birds for fun and leave them dead to go home and get some good food.

Sam says

There seems to be divide between German counties in which the Japanese Raccoon Dog fills the niche that the Common Raccoon fills in others. Even though they are not related and live widely different lives, there don't seem to be too many Common Raccoons, wherever Tanukis are found and the other way around. I haven't seen any studies on this but whenever I hear someone mention, that their region has Raccoon Dogs, they are also surprised to hear, that Saxony has Common Raccoons and have never seen one while my region has so many that they are starting to become a problem.

A cute problem though. The first time I met a raccoon I was in my garden hut at night, in the wintertime, sorting through some old tools. It just appeared in the doorframe, standing there as if knocking, and checked if it could come in. It could. For the next nearly three years I'd have raccoon company whenever I stayed at my garden at night, sometimes in the afternoon. They stole some cat food or straight up planted their furry butts in the bird feed. At some point they multiplied and I had baby raccoons in my shed. While the colony of raccoons from the nearby forest was tearing through other people's huts and vegetable patches, mine would just grab some cat food and bird seeds and play catch on my terrace with me present. The young raccoons were interested in shoe laces while the older ones enjoyed the pond. I saw and heard them using the neighbor's playground once. Then people started threatening to poison and drown said raccoons and it was time to let them go, and feed the other animals during daytime only, before they get hurt.

It is said that the Common Raccoon can't be domesticated because they turn into scratchy, bity adults who are very territorial. I have to say, however, that I have been petting the ones growing up near my garden quite a few times. Having little hands themselves, they do recognize what a hand is and will turn it over to see if you have food. They recognize you as a big animal that can defend them from cats and foxes and not hesitate to make your home their home in the blink of an eye, too. They are way less aggressive than they are made out to be, at least when not threatened. Still I wouldn't advise to feed them wherever they are invasive or lure them into your neighborhood when they aren't living there already. They destroy things just to see them break, rip wood panels off the walls instead of using the door and break open every container that has ever been near any kind of food. They look cute doing all of that, though.

Slideshow

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Observations

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

In captivity

• 
•