Raccoons overrun Tokyo in a push for unconventional pets

Raccoons rule Tokyo. The authorities of Japan's capital are starting an uneven fight with the mammals that have stopped being cute pets and become a serious problem. They have even set up a special hotline for people harmed by the raccoons.

The trend for unconventional pets is in full swing. Classic dogs or cats are still at the top of the list of beloved pets, but more and more people are opting for slightly less typical four-legged friends. Six-foot lizards, semi-wild cats, deadly venomous snakes, and domesticated wolves are increasingly found in homes and apartments.

The authorities of Tokyo are facing a serious problem that dates back to the 1970s. At that time, the anime series "Rascal the Raccoon," which starred a raccoon as the main character, was extremely popular. The Japanese fell in love with the image of the sweet, fluffy mammal with a striped tail. Some dreamed of becoming the caregiver of a cheerful raccoon. Initially, the plan seemed perfect—the raccoons were to live in confinement under the strict control of their owners.

The problem arose when some raccoons escaped into the wild or were abandoned. The mammals quickly adapted to the new living conditions and also reproduced. Their numbers skyrocketed, reaching an uncontrollable level. In response to the problem, the authorities in Japan listed raccoons as an invasive species, alongside other mammals such as the alligator snapping turtle.

The authorities of the western municipalities of Tokyo have set up a special hotline for people who have suffered damage caused by raccoons. This particularly concerns farmers whose crops are destroyed by the mammals and residents of Tokyo and its environs whose homes have been invaded by wild animals.

Representatives of the Tokyo authorities reported that in 2023, they trapped 1,282 raccoons. In 2013, only 259 were caught, indicating a huge problem with the species' expansion. In 2022, raccoons caused damages worth approximately $4,000,000 CAD. The Ministry of Agriculture of Japan reports that the most common targets of the omnivorous mammals were fruits, vegetables, grains, and livestock.

The Japanese authorities are combating the raccoons with traps, but they are not always effective. One official told "The Guardian: "Our traps are sometimes destroyed because the raccoons are also fighting for survival. Only a small portion is caught, so we cannot determine their full number."