Limburg warns of “serious infestation” risk as raccoon population spreads

The provincial government of Limburg says stronger and quicker action is required to stop raccoons from spreading beyond the region. Without it, the Netherlands could face a “serious infestation,” it warns. The province believes eradication is still possible, provided hunting is stepped up, and there is closer coordination with Belgium and Germany.

Raccoons are not native to Europe. In recent years, a wild population has developed mainly in southern Limburg, following escapes and deliberate introductions. The species is seen as a threat to rare wildlife, including the hazel dormouse, the yellow-bellied toad, and nesting bird species.

Raccoons can carry diseases such as raccoon roundworm, which can be passed on to humans, and they may also cause damage to homes by breaking in through cat flaps in search of food or shelter. In the Netherlands, policy aims to control the population mainly through trapping and culling.

The province estimates that between 100 and 200 raccoons were present in Limburg at the end of last year. More than 400 animals have been removed since 2019. While population growth seems to have levelled off somewhat, authorities warn it could increase rapidly if measures are not intensified.

“Few people know that there are already more than 1.5 million raccoons living in Germany, and they can no longer get rid of them,” says provincial executive Léon Faassen. “In Wallonia, there are also tens of thousands. We are not at that stage in Limburg yet, but it seems only a matter of time.”

The influx of raccoons from across the border makes control difficult, Faassen says. “So this is definitely something we should be concerned about and organise ourselves more intensively around.”

Limburg says it expects the national government and other provinces to stick to the commitments in the national invasive species action plan. That plan targets the complete eradication of raccoons by 2027, alongside measures to stop new arrivals from Limburg and neighbouring countries.

Limburg is setting up a reporting point, increasing the number of hunting teams, and launching pilot projects in the border area to align control efforts with authorities in Germany and Belgium. However, the province says this cross-border cooperation has only got off the ground to a limited extent, partly because raccoons are considered a widely established species just across the border and are not actively targeted there.

The province is allocating €750,000 for raccoon control up to 2030. Between 2018 and 2026, Limburg spent more than €800,000 on raccoon management.