A surge in raccoon numbers in Chiba Prefecture in eastern Japan has left watermelon farmers struggling as the nocturnal animals devour fruit just before harvest. Despite efforts to protect their crops, the damage shows no sign of easing, underscoring the challenge of controlling the highly prolific pests.

At a May event in the prefectural city of Yachimata where local farmers traditionally present watermelons to a local child care facility, one grower joked to lighten the mood, saying, "These are watermelons made by us middle-aged men who fought bears. There are bears in Chiba too -- raccoon bears." But the situation remains serious.

"Farmers alone cannot possibly cope with this," lamented a man in his 40s from Yachimata who suffered crop damage for the first time this year.

In mid-May, he found more than 10 watermelons he had cultivated since February ruined inside a plastic greenhouse. Raccoons reportedly make small holes in the fruit, insert their paws and hollow out the insides, leaving clear traces behind.

The farmer immediately installed four motion-sensor lights and kept two radios running overnight to deter further intrusions. Soon, however, another greenhouse was attacked. They ignored the sweet bread and fried chicken placed in a trap and "went straight for the watermelons," according to him. "They seemed to have developed a taste for them -- scratching at each fruit to check ripeness, even damaging young ones," he said.

Another fruit farmer in his 40s from the prefectural town of Shisui said that his fields had no damage last year, but that raccoons had eaten 15 watermelons by May this year. Because each seedling yields only one or two of the fruit items to ensure their large size, "Even the slightest scratch makes it unsellable. Installing an electric fence is the only way, but with prices rising, it's a heavy burden," he added.

According to the Chiba Prefectural Government, raccoons originate in North America and elsewhere and are dexterous omnivores capable of adapting to a wide range of environments. They spread across Japan as pets following the broadcast of an animated TV show in 1977, and abandonment by owners subsequently led to their establishment in the wild. The species has been designated an invasive alien species for its impact on ecosystems.

Raccoon breeding in southern Chiba Prefecture was first confirmed in the 1990s, and their habitat has since expanded across nearly the entire prefecture. Damage to agricultural products rose from 4.58 million yen (approx. $28,600 at today's rate) in fiscal 2006 to 46.52 million yen (about $290,500) in fiscal 2024, with rapid increases recently in the Inba region.

Cases of raccoons invading and nesting in homes or vacant houses are also on the rise. The prefecture is urging residents not to dump food waste in fields and to seal gaps in buildings to prevent intrusions.

Source - https://mainichi.jp