From Hildburg Bruns
The capital’s problem raccoons are now also making Berlin’s lakes and ponds unsafe. Red-handed wildlife cameras exposed the visits of the predators, with their big appetites for tadpoles, toads and eggs.
The Environment Senate observed five Spandau water bodies: Egelpfuhlwiesen, Unkenpfuhl, Panzersee, Südpark, Krampnitzteich. The hunters with the black fur masks appeared at four of them.
The Südpark pond is one of five Spandau bodies of water where the influence of raccoons on amphibians was investigated Photo: Christian Lohse
“By capturing amphibians, the raccoon can negatively strengthen the situation for amphibians locally,” says the environmental administration.
A primary problem for moor frogs, spadefoot toads and crested newts remains the drought with falling water levels, removed strips of reed beds and the destruction of habitats through construction work. Exposed foreign fish such as koi carp and goldfish as well as stray cats also affect it.
Nevertheless: The number of raccoons in the capital is growing enormously! According to the Senate, their population is now estimated at 1000 animals. They are descendants of escaped farm animals – “an invasive, alien species”, as the experts call it.
In particular, declines in the yellow-bellied toad are due to raccoons Photo: picture alliance / Zoonar
“We need a constructive solution,” says Katrin Seidel (55), animal welfare expert for the left. “In the outskirts of the city, raccoons are a nuisance.” Targeted hunting to protect endangered species is currently not considered sensible in Berlin.
In the past two years of hunting, city hunters have killed 46 raccoons. Because small children and school children were acutely endangered, to secure the drinking water supply, to prevent infections and animal suffering and due to massive damage to buildings.
There were also 13 exemptions for trap hunting.
