Raccoons on the Curonian Spit are being counted and monitored, and authorities are preparing a plan to combat this invasive species; hunting is likely to begin as early as spring.Saulius Rumbutis, a staff member at the Tadas Ivanauskas Zoology Museum, noted that while there appears to be a significant number of raccoons on the Curonian Spit, it is difficult to determine exactly how many are present. He estimated the population to be between 50 and 100 individuals.Raccoons are nocturnal animals that typically hide during the day. Rumbutis explained that they often choose large tree hollows or simply fallen trees—such as pines—for shelter; they climb up to sleep during the day and venture out at night in search of food.The highest concentration of raccoons has been observed near Juodkrantė. As omnivores, these animals tend to stay near inhabited areas where food is more plentiful. Rumbutis noted that raccoons feed on mollusks and will also eat the eggs or chicks found in bird nests. If they happen to find something like a slice of pizza discarded in a trash bin, they will certainly eat that as well. Raccoons are rarely spotted outside the Curonian Spit, where they must contend with predators, including wolves. On the Curonian Spit, raccoons usually die in collisions with vehicles. One local resident reported encountering raccoons running across a forest road. Another woman added that the raccoons are becoming uncontrollable, which is a problem. They are also reportedly decimating local wildlife.Lithuania’s Ministry of Environment is preparing a plan to curb the raccoon population, as scientists warn that problems will only escalate if no action is taken. Raccoon hunting will likely be permitted starting in the spring of 2027. Rumbutis noted that while raccoons can be caught in baited traps, there is a catch: unless the traps are specially adapted, the animals can use their dexterous front paws to open them and escape.It is believed that raccoons spread across the Curonian Spit after captive individuals were released into the wild.Read the full article in English here: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/3070182/it-finds-discarded-pizza-slices-raccoons-invade-lithuania-s-curonian-spit
Raccoons taking over the Curonian Spit; hunting to be permitted · BNN
