How Japan's Raccoon Problem Started with a Cartoon
Forty years ago, raccoons were popular pets in Japan. But today, the Japanese government is trying everything to get rid of the animals.
While North American raccoons are not native to Japan, they can now be found in almost every part of the country because of a popular 1970s kids' show.
When Raccoon Rascal — an anime about a boy with a pet raccoon — aired in Japan, the country saw a huge increase in the animals being imported to keep as pets.
At one point, it was reported that around 1,500 raccoons were being imported into Japan every month.
While the Japanese government eventually banned the imports, as well as the practice of keeping raccoons as pets, it was too late.
A wild population of raccoons has since grown out of control, which Japan's environment ministry says was started by the animals escaping from homes or being abandoned.
And their numbers are growing.
In Tokyo, five times more raccoons are being caught each year compared to a decade ago, according to data from the Tokyo government.
They cause damage to people's homes, food and more. In 2022, raccoons did $2.8 million in damage to crops, according to Japan's farm ministry.
The animals have also been known to damage the country's historic temples. In 2023, one temple in Nara needed to replace the roof of one of its buildings after raccoons put holes in it.
Kyodo News also mentioned reports of raccoons eating the native and endangered Tokyo salamander.
Local governments across the country have tried using things like traps to help reduce their raccoon populations. But they have yet to make much difference.
