TOKYO - The number of raccoons captured in Tokyo is on the rise. These animals, increasingly making homes in residential areas, have even been found raising their young in attics.
Charming Appearance but Potential Disease Risks
With their pointed noses and black markings around their eyes like sunglasses, raccoons might look cute, but they can carry parasites and rabies. This makes it extremely dangerous to be bitten or licked by them.
A man living in Adachi Ward, who installed cameras to monitor the raccoons, reported seeing them dozens of times since his first sighting in January.
Resident: ‘Since it warmed up, I've seen them almost daily. Yesterday, I spotted two—once in the afternoon and again around 9 PM climbing to the second floor.’
Sightings are becoming more frequent.
Resident: ‘I see them walking along the side of the house. They even stop sometimes. They don't seem scared at all.’
Despite their endearing looks, raccoons are dangerous as they can carry parasites and rabies. This makes it highly risky to be bitten or licked by them.
Resident: ‘A raccoon rummaged through and ate some snack crumbs that were left out.’
Numerous sightings have been reported online. In Setagaya Ward, raccoons were seen cautiously walking through residential streets, while in Kita Ward, four raccoons were observed skillfully climbing a fence.
Designated as an Invasive Alien Species, Requests to Pest Control Have Tripled
A decade ago, raccoons were mostly captured in western Tokyo. Recently, their habitat has expanded, and more than 1,000 raccoons were captured in the 23 wards in 2021.
Raccoons, designated as an invasive alien species, cause damage to crops and spread diseases.
House Protect manager, Kosuke Kido, noted: ‘Raccoons and masked palm civets nest even in residential areas. They are known to build nests in such places.’
Requests for pest control services have tripled compared to last year. On this day, a 50-year-old house in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, which had been infested by raccoons, was inspected.
Resident: ‘There are stains here and here—two places.’
The stains were from raccoon droppings.
Resident: ‘It walks all over the area near the entrance. There's only one, but...’
Recently, there was a new development.
If You Spot a Raccoon, Report to Local Authorities Immediately
Resident: ‘When I walked past here, I suddenly heard squeaking. I realized it had given birth. I could hear the cute voices of the babies.’
Opening a hole in the ceiling and peeking into the attic, there were a mother raccoon and her four babies.
When the mother raccoon was driven out, she left the four babies behind and fled.
House Protect staff, Naoki Takaishi, stated: ‘We are now using a capsaicin-based repellent to drive them out. It's important to ensure raccoons don't return to their nests due to their strong homing instinct.’
Resident: ‘I feel relieved but also a bit sad.’
The capture process took about five hours.
Raccoon sightings have become more common in Tokyo. Experts advise against capturing raccoons barehanded or taking any measures on your own, as it is extremely dangerous.
Associate Professor Takuya Kato from Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University emphasized: ‘It's necessary to capture raccoons and eliminate environments that attract them. However, it is very dangerous to try and deal with them on your own.’
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government urges residents to report any raccoon sightings to local authorities immediately.
Source: ANN
