Two raccoons on a fence in Prietzen (archive photo) Photo: dpa picture alliance
From BZ/dpa
In Brandenburg, the number of raccoons killed has more than doubled within ten years.
While there were just 14,495 raccoons in the 2011/2012 hunting year, the number rose to 35,117 animals in the 2020/2021 hunting year.
BVB/Freie Wahler criticize that the population cannot be reduced even with higher shooting numbers. It is said that castration of raccoons would be more effective than hunting. The state government should “consider the possibilities of castration projects or hormonal stock reduction,” demands Christine Wernicke, a member of the state parliament.
The raccoons with the distinctive black face mask are controversial. There is criticism that the animals harm biodiversity and are a danger to ground-nesting birds and amphibians.
Raccoons are now also found in residential areas. They are mostly active at dusk and at night. They may be hunted and killed with traps, among other things. According to the ministry, there are no surveys of how many raccoons live in Brandenburg.