On Oct 30^th, I attended the Apoi College lecture, "Raccoons: Knowledge and Prevention." About 60 people attended, which indicated a high level of interest. Recently, there's been a surge in the number of raccoons captured in Samani Town. Raccoons are not native to Samani, so it's essential for residents to understand them and take measures to prevent damage from raccoons. This lecture covered the ecology of raccoons and preventative measures. The Apoi College speaker was Professor Toru Ikeda of Hokkaido University.

▼ History of the raccoon's arrival

Raccoons were first spotted in Hokkaido in 1977, and they have spread throughout the entire prefecture, found in 167 municipalities as of January 2025.

▼ The Ecology and Social Impact of Raccoons

Raccoons are nocturnal animals with highly developed senses. They reproduce faster than even the Ezo deer, which birth only one offspring per year; whereas raccoons, on average, birth up to four per year. Problems caused by invasive species include damage to commercial crops (primarily sweet corn and strawberries in Samani), trespassing, the transmission of diseases, the displacement of native species through competition, and the reduction of native species populations through predation.

▼ Raccoon Prevention Measures

Raccoons are highly intelligent and curious animals, and they show a strong interest in traps, so instead of avoiding the traps, it makes raccoons relatively easy to capture. When trying to control raccoon populations across large areas, establishing a social control method is more pressing than addressing technical or strategic challenges. There are various approaches to dealing with traps. Many impressive methods are emerging from New Zealand.

By tracking CPUE (Catch Per Unit Effort) from recorded trappings, we can estimate population density in trapping areas. This allows us to estimate the total population size. In order to effectively reduce raccoon numbers, setting the target capture rate at half the population size is sufficient. This approach offers a viable solution through the application of data-driven scientific insights.

The common box traps that are used can be difficult to maintain as they require daily inspections, and there was also a video explaining how to use the nest-box traps.

▼ Raccoon Prevention Measures in Samani

According to Samani's 2021 Wildlife Damage Prevention Plan, by attending a raccoon capture training session and obtaining a Raccoon Control Certificate, anyone can safely and legally capture raccoons without a hunting license. I'm not sure how long the certificate is good for, possibly only for one year.

▼ Conclusions

In Erimo Town, the local Town History Museum shared an example of raccoon capture efforts near Lake Toyoni. The lakeshore is home to rare native species that require conservation; it is also a habitat for brown bears and features a well-known nature trail for tourists. Nest-box traps are often used to capture raccoons in this area.

Key points for effective raccoon population control include early detection, swift countermeasures, and cooperation from residents. Damage prevention starts with awareness of the issue. The lecture emphasized the importance of covering a large area with these countermeasures.