Japan has invasive raccoon problem
Listen to the story (Kenyan accent)
Japan has a growing problem with raccoons. Since 2014, the number of raccoons in Japan has increased significantly. In 2022, Tokyo’s government reported that nearly 1,300 raccoons were caught. That is 400% more than the number caught a decade ago.
Raccoons are invasive and not originally from Japan. They were brought to the country in the 1970s because of a popular cartoon called “Rascal the Raccoon.” This show was based on a book by Sterling North about his experiences raising a baby raccoon named Rascal. The show made raccoons so popular that people started bringing them to Japan to keep as pets. In some years, more than 1,500 raccoons were brought into the country.
However, raccoons are difficult pets. They can be destructive, need lots of attention, and sometimes bite. Taking care of a raccoon can also be costly because most vets will not treat them. Because of these difficulties, many families released their pet raccoons into the wild.
Without any natural predators in Japan, the raccoons quickly multiplied and spread across all 47 prefectures of the country. They have caused damage to the environment and cost the farming industry nearly $3 million in crop damages in 2022.
It has been difficult trying to control the number of racoons in the country. Raccoons are clever so traps are often broken, and few are caught.
Japan is not the only country with this issue. Germany also has a problem with invasive raccoons, which were brought there for their fur in the 1930s. In 2023, there were reports of raccoons entering homes in Germany, making messes, and even stealing beer.
Vocabulary38 words
- Grow
- To become bigger or increase in size; become
- Raccoon
- ?; a masked animal with a bushy tail, about the size of a small dog
- Increase
- to go up; to make something larger; to make more of; expand
- Significantly
- In a noticeable or important way or manner
- Government
- the group of people who have the authority to make and enforce laws and manage a country or region; the people/group that manage and operate a country
- Report
- to tell other people about something; to share information; announce; explain
- Nearly
- almost; about; near
- Catch
- To capture or trap something; Grab something or someone
- Decade
- 10 years; a 10-year period
- Invasive
- not natural to the area, spreads quickly and harmful to the new area
- Popular
- Liked by many people; something many people like; common; frequent
- Cartoon
- A funny drawing that tells a story; a movie made using characters and images that are invented and drawn
- Based on
- related to; derived from; inspired by;
- Raise
- To take care of a child or animal until it is grown up
- Destructive
- Causing damage or harm; Likes to break or damage things
- Attention
- notice; thought; interest; awareness; focus
- Bite
- Using the teeth to cut or clamp onto something
- Costly
- Expensive; costing a lot of money
- Veterinarian (vet)
- animal doctor; doctor for animals
- Treat
- to take care of something and make it better; to try to “fix”
- Release
- To let go or set free; to let out into the world; to let something out
- Wild
- Living in a natural state, not kept or controlled by humans; Not in a zoo or someone's home, where animals live freely
- Predator
- An animal that hunts and eats other animals;
- Multiply
- To increase in number by reproduction; Make more of something, like how rabbits have many babies
- Spread
- to open out; to extend over an area; to move apart to cover a bigger area;
- Prefecture
- a ‘state’ or ‘region’ in Japan
- Environment
- the natural world; the place we live; the area around us; nature; Earth
- Industry
- business field; area of work or business; type of business
- Million
- 1,000,000 = one-million
- Crop
- any type of plant that is grown to use as food
- Control
- to have power over something; to rule; to regulate
- Clever
- smart; intelligent
- Trap
- A device/machine for catching animals;
- Few
- not many
- Issue
- a subject or problem that people are thinking and/or talking about; matter; topic; problem
- Fur
- The soft hair that covers the bodies of some animals
- Mess
- Something that's untidy or not clean; something unorganized or in chaos
- Steal
- to take something without permission; to take something that’s not yours; rob
Quiz
Answer key
1. Rascal the Raccoon 2. Raccoons are very smart and avoid traps. 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Japan has a _____ problem with raccoons. Since 2014, the _____ of raccoons in Japan has increased significantly. In _____, Tokyo’s government reported that nearly 1,300 raccoons were caught. That is _____% more than the number caught a _____ ago.
Raccoons are invasive and not _____ from Japan. They were brought to the country in the 1970s because of a _____ cartoon called “Rascal the Raccoon.” This show was _____ on a book by Sterling North about his experiences raising a baby _____ named Rascal. The show made raccoons so popular that people _____ bringing them to Japan to keep as _____. In some years, more than 1,500 raccoons were brought into the _____.
However, raccoons are _____ pets. They can be destructive, need lots of attention, and sometimes _____. Taking care of a raccoon can _____ be costly because most vets will not treat them. Because of _____ difficulties, many families _____ their pet raccoons into the wild.
Without any natural _____ in Japan, the raccoons quickly multiplied and spread across all _____ prefectures of the country. They have caused damage to the _____ and cost the farming industry nearly $3 million in crop damages in _____.
It has _____ difficult trying to control the _____ of racoons in the country. Raccoons are clever so traps are often _____, and few are caught.
_____ is not the only country with this issue. _____ also has a problem with invasive raccoons, which were brought there for _____ fur in the 1930s. In _____, there were reports of raccoons entering homes in Germany, making messes, and _____ stealing beer.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think people wanted to keep raccoons as pets after watching “Rascal the Raccoon”?
- What responsibilities do pet owners have when they can no longer take care of their pets?
- Should there be stricter laws on importing exotic pets to prevent similar situations?
- How can people and governments work together to solve the problem of invasive raccoons?
Common questions
Are there raccoons in Japan?
Yes — but they are an invasive species, not native. Raccoons were brought to Japan in the 1970s after the cartoon 'Rascal the Raccoon' made them popular as pets. Many escaped or were released, and the wild population has grown ever since.
How big is Japan's raccoon problem?
Tokyo's government reported that nearly 1,300 raccoons were caught in 2022 — about 400% more than a decade earlier — and the population has increased significantly across Japan since 2014.
Why were raccoons brought to Japan?
A popular 1970s anime, 'Rascal the Raccoon' — based on Sterling North's book about raising a baby raccoon — made raccoons so popular that people imported them as pets. When the pets proved difficult to keep, many were released into the wild.
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