Raccoons in the Rems-Murr district: Danger for toads and salamander!

Raccoons in the Rems-Murr district: Danger for toads and salamander!

In the Rems-Murr district, the population of raccoons has risen sharply in recent years, which has serious effects on domestic wildlife. These findings are based on the state government's response to a request from Jochen Haußmann and other FDP MPs. The shooting figures from the Baden-Württemberg counties offer the data basis for this assessment, but there are uncertainties regarding the exact number of raccoons in the region, such as [zvw.de] (https://www.zvw.de/rems-murr-kreis/waschb%C3%A4ren-rems-murr-deckt-ihnen-tisch-wer-kr%C3%B6ten-ar.

The increasing raccoon population seriously endangers the stocks of domestic amphibians. This is underpinned by increased reports of car toads on spawning waters. This year, over 500 dead toads were counted on a spawning waters. In addition, cadavers of the strictly protected yellow -bellied is found and fire salamanders were also found, which underlines the importance of protecting these species. Baden-Württemberg has a special responsibility within the EU for the yellow-belly. bkz.de lists raccoons as a prey ripper of amphibians, and experts from the lower nature conservation authority suspect a negative influence of the washbeans on certain types of amphibia.

pilot project for amphibian protection

In order to counter the conflicts between raccoons and local amphibians, a pilot project entitled "Amphibia Protection and Raccoons of Management" was launched. This project extends over several areas of spawning waters in Aspach, Oppenweiler and Schorndorf. The aim is to examine and observe the frequency of raccoons on these waters which amphibians captured. [bkz.de] (https://www.bkz.de/nachrichten/amphibien-im-mrs-murr-kreis-vor-Waschbaeren-werden-werden-werden-werden-werden-werden-werden-werden-weren-werden-werden-weren-weren-werden-weren-werden-weren-weren-weren-werden-weren-werden-weren-weren-weren-weren-werden-weren-weren-weren-weren-weren-weren should be informed that electrical fences should be installed in order to prevent access from the raccoons. Covering measures are tested on smaller waters of the yellow -belly.

Another aspect of the project is the killing of raccoons near amphibian spawning waters using the falling of the affairs of amphibians. However, a nationwide hunting in the Rems-Murr district is not part of the project. The pilot project is carried out under the leadership of the Ministry for the Environment, Climate and Energy Management and involves various specialist agencies, including the Lower Nature Conservation Authority and the district forestry office. The results of this project are expected to be available at the end of 2024.