Raccoons - Articles - Zimbio

Island goes to the polls to decide how to deal with pesky raccoon dogs

Thu, 29 Feb 2008 00:52:25 GMT

posted by Okinawa

CHIBU, Shimane -- A local government here will conduct a poll among residents on whether or not to expel raccoon dogs from the island as their population is nearly triple that of the humans.

The Chibu Municipal Government will survey about 590 adult residents on Chiburi Island in Shimane Prefecture on whether they are for or against getting rid of the raccoon dogs, or tanuki in Japanese.

Based on the results of the poll, which will be compiled by the end of March, the village will decide on a plan to deal with the raccoon dogs from next fiscal year.

The village's move came after an animal rights group pointed out that some residents are against getting rid of the raccoon dogs.

As of December last year, there were about 2,000 raccoon dogs on Chiburi Island, one of the Oki Islands in Shimane Prefecture, while the human population stood at 709.

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Tue, 17 Jan 2007 00:42:43 GMT

posted by The_Zimbio_Team
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Raccoon dogs overrunning island off Shimane Prefecture

Sun, 24 Dec 2007 16:28:22 GMT

posted by Okinawa

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.