New study reveals the spread patterns of raccoons in Germany and Europe
As part of the joint project ZOWIAC (Zoonotic and Wildlife Ecological Impacts of Invasive Carnivores), a research team from Frankfurt scientifically evaluated hunting data from two decades and 398 German districts. The aim of the study was to identify the different invasion stages of the raccoon, originally from North America, in Germany. The study shows that raccoons go through various stages during their spread in Germany – from initial occurrences to rapid growth and stabilization. There are particularly large numbers of the masked predators in northern Hesse and northeastern Brandenburg, where their spread has now stagnated. In other regions, such as southwestern Germany, the distribution is still in its early stages. The researchers emphasize that their method is not only an effective tool for managing invasive species in Germany but can also be applied to other neobiota in Europe. The results were published in the renowned journal “Ecological Indicators.”