OSAKA –
Raccoons are more and more showing in city areas of Japan, together with residential neighborhoods close to Shin-Osaka Station, elevating issues over illness, assaults on folks and agricultural harm that reached about 700 million yen nationwide final 12 months.
Despite their acquainted look, raccoons are designated as invasive alien species in Japan and might turn out to be aggressive towards folks, together with biting and lunging at them.
Their distinctive black markings across the eyes and striped tails helped make the animals common in Japan, notably after the 1977 tv anime Rascal the Raccoon.
Large numbers had been subsequently imported from North America as pets. However, their aggressive nature made them tough to maintain, and a few homeowners deserted them, permitting populations to determine themselves within the wild.
Japan designated raccoons as an invasive alien species in 2005.
Experts warn that bites also can carry the danger of infectious illnesses, together with rabies, which is nearly invariably deadly as soon as signs develop.
Agricultural harm brought on by raccoons has additionally elevated sharply. Losses nationwide reached about 700 million yen final 12 months, the best stage on report and practically 20 instances the quantity recorded round 20 years in the past.
Kobe has responded by turning to non-public teams for assist with trapping.
The metropolis established the Kobe Raccoon Busters initiative in July, with 20 organizations that had acquired coaching or different instruction becoming a member of the trouble. One collaborating group is a membership at Kobe High School.
Raccoons have appeared on college grounds in Kobe, the place they’ve reportedly scattered feces and precipitated different issues.
The college’s Natural Science Research Association started collaborating in trapping actions this 12 months after raccoons had been seen for a number of years. The membership caught one raccoon final week after college students checked a entice following lessons and located an animal inside.
The group had already captured one other raccoon in July and plans to proceed its actions whereas additionally learning the animals’ ecology.
One scholar mentioned the work was vital not solely as analysis but additionally for shielding college students’ security.
Capturing the animals, nevertheless, is just not all the time easy.
In the Dojo space of Kobe’s Kita Ward, raccoons have broken crops together with grapes, prompting collaborating teams to put in traps.
One group caught two animals, however one escaped earlier than it could possibly be secured.
Raccoons have extremely dexterous entrance paws and might typically open traps and escape. In one other case, a digital camera positioned in entrance of a cage confirmed that bait disappeared in the course of the evening with out the raccoon being caught.
People concerned within the trapping effort described the method as a contest of intelligence between people and raccoons, with success usually relying on which aspect outmaneuvers the opposite.
Experts say one of many foremost causes raccoon numbers have risen so sharply in Japan is the dearth of pure predators.
In North America, raccoons face predators reminiscent of coyotes, however Japan has few animals that routinely prey on them.
The drawback is turning into more and more seen in Osaka.
Raccoon numbers in Osaka Prefecture have risen quickly over the previous 20 years, whereas the areas the place they’re captured have step by step moved nearer to densely populated city areas.
Osaka metropolis acquired 397 stories of sightings and associated incidents final 12 months.
Yodogawa Ward recorded the most important variety of raccoon-related incidents within the metropolis, and residents have reported sightings in neighborhoods near Shin-Osaka Station, one among western Japan’s foremost railway gateways.
A person dwelling in a residential space close to the station mentioned he encountered raccoons about two weeks in the past.
Video he recorded confirmed a number of of the animals approaching him, and he mentioned a complete of six raccoons appeared within the parking space of his dwelling.
The man mentioned what frightened him most was that the animals didn’t seem afraid of individuals. He has lived in Osaka for about 40 years and mentioned it was the primary time he had ever seen raccoons there.
Another close by resident mentioned raccoons had eaten grapes grown in his dwelling backyard.
Around 30 bunches had been rising, however the fruit was stripped away. The man mentioned he had suffered comparable harm three years earlier and that this 12 months’s losses had been the worst to this point.
He mentioned he didn’t know what number of raccoons had been dwelling close by and feared there could possibly be extra.
Reports have additionally emerged from Osaka’s Konohana Ward.
One resident mentioned raccoons had eaten medaka fish stored outdoors, leaving containers overturned and the realm in disarray. Around 10 fish had been believed to have been eaten.
Other residents additionally reported seeing two or extra raccoons, whereas safety digital camera footage captured an animal resembling a raccoon.
Another resident mentioned 4 giant raccoons had been seen within the neighborhood at round 4 p.m. yesterday.
A tv crew searched the realm for a complete of about eight hours over two days earlier than ultimately recognizing an animal bigger than a cat operating beneath a wire fence.
An professional who examined the footage recognized the animal as a raccoon, citing options together with its pointed face, barely curved posture and the best way it moved its entrance paws alongside the bottom.
With raccoons transferring deeper into city areas, specialists say folks ought to keep away from approaching or interacting with them.
“The best thing is to pretend you haven’t noticed it,” one professional mentioned.
Residents who repeatedly see raccoons, or suspect they’re dwelling in a vacant home or one other property, ought to report the data to their native authorities.
Feeding the animals needs to be averted beneath all circumstances as a result of raccoons can study to affiliate folks with meals, doubtlessly growing the danger of future encounters.
Experts additionally stress that the present drawback is essentially the results of human actions.
Raccoons had been initially imported in giant numbers as a result of they had been thought-about cute pets, just for some homeowners to desert them after discovering how aggressive and tough they could possibly be.
Because the animals can carry illness and trigger intensive harm, specialists say controlling their populations is critical.
As raccoons are designated invasive alien species, residents who discover them are suggested to contact their native municipality quite than trying to seize or deal with the animals themselves.
Source: KTV NEWS