A German city has been transformed into the “raccoon capital of Europe” as Nazi-era pests ravage homes and attack trash cans.
Shocking footage showed more than a dozen nocturnal dumpster-diving beasts roaming the streets of Kassel.
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One popular theory suggests that the wild animals earned the name “Nazi raccoons” after being introduced by Hermann Goering – the founder of the Gestapo – in the 1930s.
But the Kassel forestry authorities were actually to blame.
On April 12, 1934, Wilhelm Freiherr Sittich von Berlepsch, head of the local forestry office, released two pairs of raccoons in the vicinity of Lake Edersee to “enrich” the local wildlife.
And so-called “masked bandits” have been causing mayhem ever since – and exploding in numbers.
Native to America, the German city – with a population of 200,000 – was invaded by around 30,000 raccoons.
And that’s 25 times the number found anywhere else in the world. Germany, The times reports.
Raccoons in Germany were initially kept in captivity for their fur – but many managed to escape from fur farms during World War II and others were intentionally released into the wild.
Experts believe that the number of raccoons in Germany could soon reach one million.
With cities offering plenty of food and shelter, people living in Kassel have long been forced to share their space with raccoons.
Nocturnal omnivores take over parks and streets, climb chimneys, garden sheds or attics and raid rubbish bins and gardens in search of food.
They enter homes, brazenly cross busy streets, and fight pet cats and dogs.
In some cases, the animals decimated homes, ripping out insulation and breaking tiles.
Raccoons in Germany are also known as “washing bears” because of their ability to wash food in water before eating it.
They mainly eat birds and amphibians – including the already highly endangered yellow-bellied frog – and leave trails of debris scattered from their hunts.
They are a pest. I’ve seen attics completely destroyed by raccoons
Frank Becker
But the creatures have also become the city’s unofficial mascots — with stores selling furry toys, T-shirts and magnets.
Researchers have found that troublesome raccoons are smart — they’ve even learned to open secure boxes.
Others believe the threat from the angry raccoons – which have no natural predators – has been exaggerated.
Berit Michler, a leading raccoon biologist, said BBC Wildlife: “Raccoons are lazy.
“They mostly eat what is easy to obtain, which are usually abundant and readily available prey species.”
Last year, a total of 200,000 raccoons were killed in Germany – and pest control companies catch them in live traps before killing them.
After the species’ introduction, hunting was initially restricted, but was implemented in 1954 in Hesse when raccoons began attacking chicken coops and crops.
Slaughter is now legal in all German states.
Frank Becker, a raccoon hunter, said, “They are a pest. I’ve seen attics that have been completely ruined by raccoons.
“Damage costs can reach 10 thousand euros. I saw a house that had to be completely demolished.”
Raccoons are lazy. They mostly eat what is easy to obtain, which are usually abundant and readily available prey species.
Berit Michler
Several organizations, including PETA, have called for the culling to be halted.
Some people keep the creatures as pets, and animal shelters care for injured cubs before releasing them back into the wild.
In addition to Germany, the animals spread to neighboring countries – with Belgium, FranceNetherlands and Italy facing the increase in the raccoon population.
Some have raised concerns about the potential impact of invaders on native flora and fauna.
And the EU added the common raccoon to its invasive species list in 2016.
Experts believe that culling the raccoons does not solve the problem and new ones arrive immediately.
It may be that the only option left is for people and raccoons to find a way to live together.
What are ‘Nazi raccoons’?
A POPULAR theory suggests that the wild animals earned the name “Nazi raccoons”
But the Kassel forestry authorities were actually to blame.
Wilhelm Freiherr Sittich von Berlepsch, head of the local forestry office, released two pairs of raccoons in the vicinity of Lake Edersee on April 12, 1934 to “enrich” the local wildlife.
Raccoons in Germany were initially kept in captivity for their fur.
But it is known that many managed to escape from the fur farms around Berlin during World War II – and some were intentionally released into the wild.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
