Raccoons spread into Japanese cities as farm damage mounts

A surge in raccoon populations is causing significant damage to Japanese agriculture and urban environments, as reported by Kyodo News. In the fiscal year starting April 2024, agricultural losses attributable to raccoons totaled 693 million yen, a more than doubling from 334 million yen a decade prior. The issue is also evident in cities, with complaints in Osaka rising from 161 in fiscal 2023 to 397 in fiscal 2025.

Osaka prefecture officials attribute the expansion to the animals seeking food in residential areas. The prefecture has urged residents to avoid approaching or feeding raccoons, which now cause 84.06 million yen in crop damage annually, accounting for over 40% of all wildlife-related agricultural damage in the area. The ministry attributes this spread to changes in environmental conditions and the availability of breeding sites like vacant houses.

Hokkaido faces a similar challenge, with raccoons spreading to nearly the entire prefecture since 1992. Agricultural damage in the region surpassed 220 million yen in fiscal 2024, the highest on record. The prefectural government has implemented control measures and training programs, but finds it difficult to keep up with the animals' rapid population growth.

Eradicating raccoons in the wild proves challenging, and researchers argue that continued trapping efforts are necessary to control their numbers, even during periods of lower crop damage.