The Raccoon and Invasive Alien Species Management

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Wildlife

The Raccoon and Invasive Alien Species Management

3 September 2022
News
Seemingly untouched environments often harbour wildlife that originates from outside the geographical location, which can disrupt ecosystems and harm biodiversity by outcompeting native species. Through human activities, these animal and plant species can be introduced to new areas intentionally or accidentally from a variety of pathways, including the exotic pet trade and fur farms.

EU Legislation sadly refers to these as Invasive Alien Species (IAS) and requires MS to eradicate newly establishing populations, or manage populations if it is already fully established in an area. The name is a problem in itself as it demonises undeserving animals. This is the case for the misunderstood raccoon (Procyton lotor), a beautiful, ring-tailed, masked mammal native to North America. Check our Q&A to find out how this affects the raccoon.

Are Raccoons on the IAS Union List?

Yes, raccoons are a species on the list of species of concern to the European Union (the Union List). All species on this list are therefore subject to the rules set out in the IAS Regulation, and the raccoon has a large, well-established population in some parts of Europe, particularly in Germany.

Why were raccoons originally placed on the List?

As non-native species, raccoons were deliberately set free by hunters in Germany, where they started a wild population. Later they were purposefully released or escaped from fur farms. Populations have spread to many other Member States since then.

Raccoons are intelligent animals with a high capacity for feeling joy as well as to suffer. They will feed opportunistically and have been known to eat eggs, chicks and adult birds. However, it is important to highlight that studies show that they change their diets seasonally and a very large part of their diets consists of invertebrates as well as fruits and vegetables. It is unknown if, or how the Commission has used studies in their assessments to list raccoons.

In the past, raccoons have been documented to carry disease, however, at least in Germany, there has been no terrestrial rabies with very low risk of contracting roundworm from Germany.

How were raccoons placed on the list?

The Listing process is long and complex including detailed risk assessments from Scientific Review Groups, requiring a lot of evidence. However, the reason for the inclusion of raccoons on the Union List has in the past been untransparent, with a lack of clarity of how evidence was used.

Some papers demonstrating a negligible ecological impact of raccoons have never been considered, and several papers used in the listing process do not appear to be entirely relevant. More clarity on this process is greatly needed.

What does this mean for raccoons?

This can mean that the raccoon is often referred to as “pest'' or, “vermin”, and inclusion in the list can de-empathise the public to the fact that these animals are sentient and intelligent beings that feel joy, pain and have the ability to suffer greatly. Resulting in the formation of “second class species”.

Hunters, as a result, employ techniques that are often indiscriminate and can see the list as an excuse to hunt as many of these animals as possible. For example, in Germany, over 200,000 raccoons were killed between 2020/2021, with some monetary incentives, also called bounties, even being paid for killing them.

Ill or injured raccoons which are captured are not allowed to be released, meaning they must spend the rest of their lives in captivity, causing long term suffering while burdening rescue centres.

Are there any benefits of the raccoon being on the list?

Being on the Union List means raccoons can no longer be intentionally imported, kept, transported, reproduced or released. In the past, raccoons have been known to be kept on fur farms and as pets.

While many racoons suffer greatly at the hands of hunters in the name of population management, it is clearly stated in the text of the IAS Regulation that non-lethal methods can be used for the management of these species. We believe that this should be not only stated, but actively encouraged through official guidance by the European Commission. In addition, the Regulation provides that Member States shall spare avoidable suffering when managing IAS but there is still a lack of humane management methods.

Should the raccoon be removed from the list?

It appears that available evidence does not meet the high bar demanded by the Commission to argue for delisting raccoons, though additional research and information could better inform the situation. 

The benefits of delisting raccoons do not outweigh the negative impacts for this wonderful creature, as they would likely continue to be hunted under Member State hunting legislation.

Removing them from the list may result in currently prohibited trade in raccoons increasing, resulting in long term suffering for a large number of them.

What should be done?

The IAS Regulation allows room for humane management, and we implore the Commission to push Member States to fund and explore humane management measures, such as small scale catch-neuter and release strategies, and the promising field of fertility control.

Additionally, important awareness raising campaigns to help the public and IAS managers understand the sentience of these animals, rather than the negative stereotypes, are greatly needed. They would likely lead to more humane approaches.

For more details, Eurogroup for Animals will soon publish a Position paper on the Union List and how the Commission can improve its implementation, and on the humane management of these sentient animals.

For more information, please read our Briefing and Position paper on the Union list of IAS.

European Union’s list of invasive alien species of Union concern

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The List of Invasive Alien Species of Union Concern: Implementation and Species updates

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