Curonian Spit National Park in Lithuania invites local residents to report raccoon sightings. The reason is because this invasive species puts at risk the local fauna and local residents. Local authorities have also permitted hunters to hunt these animals using traps all year round, as reported by Lithuania public media LRT.
Administration of the national park compiles information about observed raccoon in the area – so far this year residents have reported a total of ten sightings, most of them in Juodkrantė area.
«A raccoon was found trapped in a fence in Amber Bay,» says biologist of Curonian Spit National Park Modestas Bružas. «The firefighters arrived and pulled the trapped raccoon out of the fence. Unfortunately, it escaped and continues to wander somewhere.»
in Autumn raccoon often make their way into people’s homes in search of food, mostly fruits and vegetables, the expert said.
Although raccoon look cute and fun, it is an invasive species widely spread in central and north American forests and foothills. The first raccoon sighted in Lithuania’s tourist resort city of Neringa were hunted down nearly a decade ago.
«When a new fauna is introduced, our native fauna immediately has a competitor,» said Bružas.
«Some species, such as bird species, are not adapted to the fact that such a predator can tear up a nest in a tree or on the ground,‘ he added.
To limit the raccoon population, Neriga’s city administration has asked hunters to step in and catch the animals with traps.
Last year hunters caught one raccoon. Three were caught the year prior.
Full article is available here: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1807432/cute-but-invasive-racoon-population-grows-in-lithuania-s-curonian-region