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Record hunter: Killed over 2,500 raccoons in Western Pomerania!
In the Vorpommern-Greifswald district, record numbers of raccoons were killed in 2024/2025, while the main game species recorded declines.
Record hunter: Killed over 2,500 raccoons in Western Pomerania!
In Western Pomerania-Greifswald, hunters seem to be particularly challenged at the moment. According to the report by nordkurier.de A record number of over 2,500 raccoons were shot in the 2024/2025 hunting year. This represents a new high that indicates the increasing spread of these animals in Germany. The hunters in the region are active on around 345,000 hectares in 725 hunting districts.
The numbers speak for themselves: The number of registered hunters has risen to 2,051, which means an increase of 57 new registrations compared to the previous year. What is particularly pleasing is the increase in the proportion of women among hunting license holders, which is now 11.5 percent - a significant jump from around 5 percent 10 years ago. The hunter exams in particular enjoy a high success rate: of 255 examinees, 211 passed, which represents an increase compared to the previous year.
The raccoons and their distribution
The invasive species is not only spreading in Western Pomerania-Greifswald, but is also on the rise in other regions of Germany. According to that German Hunting Association In 2023, 69 percent of hunting areas reported the presence of raccoons. This corresponds to an increase of almost 75 percent since 2011. The raccoon is even overtaking the native red fox in hunting statistics, which underlines the urgency of its regulation.
In the main distribution areas such as Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Brandenburg and Hesse, more than 90 percent of the participating areas were reported to have raccoons. These are doubling in the southwest, especially in Baden-Württemberg, where the proportion of areas with raccoon populations has increased from 14 percent in 2011 to 51 percent in 2023.
Hunting numbers at a glance
A look at the current hunting figures shows a mixed trend for the various game species. While raccoons are on the rise, other species are experiencing declines. Here is an overview:
| wild species | Animals shot in 2024/2025 |
|---|---|
| Deer | almost 1,600 |
| fallow deer | around 1,200 |
| Deer | approximately 5,600 |
| wild boar | over 7,200 |
| racoon | over 2,500 |
| fox | over 3,000 |
| Raccoon dog | almost 1,400 |
Hunting plays a crucial role in the management of invasive species like raccoons. Scientific evidence shows that the animals often eat amphibians during the mating season, which may lead to local extinction of these species. The World Biodiversity Council IPBES 2023 also warned this and emphasized the importance of regulating invasive species.
It will therefore be exciting to see how the raccoon population will develop in the coming years and what measures will be necessary to curb their influence. One thing is certain: today's hunter not only needs a good hand, but also a watchful eye! Hunting facts highlights the importance of trapping in order to counteract the spread of this species.