Germany imposes up to €25,000 fines for feeding invasive raccoons

Germany’s raccoon (Procyon lotor) population, estimated at up to two million, has spread rapidly since the species was first released in the 1930s. The animals are classified as an invasive species and are blamed for threatening native wildlife such as birds, amphibians and reptiles.

Feeding raccoons in public areas is considered an administrative offence. In Berlin and North Rhine‑Westphalia the penalty can reach €5,000, while in the states of Hessen, Lower Saxony and Thuringia fines of up to €25,000 are possible. The fines aim to deter people from attracting the animals, which often nest in garages, attics and urban green spaces.

Under the Hessian Hunting Law, landowners may capture or kill raccoons on their property, but the use of firearms is prohibited. The law permits the removal of the animals by licensed hunters, reflecting EU regulations that require invasive species to be controlled by authorized personnel.