Raccoon dogs overrunning island off Shimane Prefecture

CHIBU, Shimane -- After being introduced 66 years ago, an island here is now being overrun by raccoon dogs, with the population of the creatures nearly triple that of the human residents.

The number of raccoon dogs, or tanuki, on Chiburi Island, one of the Oki Islands in Shimane Prefecture, has swelled to about 2,000, nearly three times the human population of 709. The creatures are reportedly causing problems for residents by damaging agricultural produce.

"As soon as I sow my potato seeds, they come and dig them up," said one 77-year-old farmer on the island. "I can't work if I don't spread out nets, and even if I do spread nets out they tear them and get in."

On Dec. 10 the village launched a three-year plan to trap up to 900 raccoon dogs that came down from the mountains. However, about 50 phone calls and e-mails came in from animal protection groups across Japan, with people arguing that the creatures should be controlled through spaying and neutering. As a result, the village's plan was abandoned after four days; and with no backup plan, officials have been left scratching their heads over the problem.

A village journal says that the first raccoon dogs brought to the Oki Islands were a breeding pair sent to the mayor from Japan's main island of Honshu in 1941, for reasons that remain unclear. However, it's believed that the raccoon dogs escaped and began breeding, and are now causing headaches for locals.