Raccoon hunting in Lower Saxony: population is growing dangerously!

Raccoon hunting in Lower Saxony: population is growing dangerously!

From July 16, 2025, the closed season for raccoons in Lower Saxony will be over and that means the sophisticated survival artists can be hunted again. The raccoon population is growing and spreading rapidly, causing serious problems in many regions, especially in the Northeim district. How NDR Reportedly, 2,354 raccoons were shot in the said district in the 2023/2024 hunting year alone. This clearly shows that hunters are called upon to counteract the prevalence of these animals.

Residents complain about the destruction of their gardens and living spaces: ponds are dug up, attics are defaced and garbage cans are ransacked at will. In fact, what's so voracious about raccoons is not just their insatiable hunger, but also the threat they pose to protected species; They eat young birds, for example. The numbers are frightening: 20 years ago, raccoons were found in only 1,174 hunting grounds in Lower Saxony, or around 15%. In 2023, however, their occurrence was already recorded in 4,416 hunting areas (approx. 61%).

Raccoon population growth

A similar picture emerges across the state: over 25,000 raccoons were shot by hunters in 2023, an increase of 9.4% compared to the previous year Stalk supplemented. Raccoons are particularly widespread in southern Lower Saxony, especially in the districts of Northeim, Göttingen, Harz and Lüchow-Dannenberg. For comparison: In the same period, 44,961 nutrias were shot, which represents an increase of over 29%. Even the raccoon dog's hunting distance decreased slightly. The trend clearly shows that invasive species are not only increasing in Lower Saxony, but are also having serious impacts on the local nature.

Raccoons are considered an invasive species in Germany, which is why combating these animals has been made compulsory. According to the Federal Nature Conservation Act, containment measures are necessary. A look at the legal regulations also shows that, in contrast to Lower Saxony, in other federal states, such as Brandenburg or Bavaria, there is no closed season for these animals. Hunting is handled more flexibly here.

Management and strategies

In order to overcome the challenges, a task force was set up in the Northeim district to specifically combat the raccoon population. This initiative is necessary because the increase in invasive species poses risks to native biodiversity. In Lower Saxony, for example, reports about invasive species are made easy: Anyone who discovers such a species can report it via the Lower Saxony reporting platform (IASNI) or by email to help the specialist authorities assess the situation and, if necessary, take action. Information materials such as this NLWKN homepage, also provide a good overview of invasive species and current regulations.

Overall, one thing remains clear: raccoons have not only expanded their distribution significantly, but also bring with them challenges for people and nature. With the closed season now ending, every opportunity will be used to get the problem under control. It remains to be seen whether the measures will be enough to keep the raccoon population under control.