How ‘invasive species’ the raccoon is a threat to both wildlife and humans

Raccoons are being found across a growing number of areas in France, a concern for experts who say the invasive species is a threat to local wildlife. 

There have been reports of raccoons eating unripe fruit, entering people’s gardens and even attacking chickens and entering people’s homes to eat food left out for pets. 

The raccoon is native to North America and was originally introduced to France in the 1960s by American and Canadian NATO soldiers. Other raccoons ended up in the wild after escaping from zoos in the 2000s. 

It is a concern for experts, who say the species is a threat for local wildlife and even humans. 

“Its expansion into rural and wild landscapes creates additional pressure on wildlife through predation and competition,” said Jean-François Maillard, a researcher in Invasive Terrestrial Exotic Vertebrates at the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB).

“It is a generalist and opportunistic carnivore that also eats small fruits. It is a very good climber that can hunt on the ground (e.g. duck nests), but also at the top of trees or in cavities. This species can consume agricultural products such as crops.”

They also pose a risk to human health through an internal parasite they carry that can be transmitted to humans. 

“Raccoons can also enter homes and pose a risk of biting. They carry rabies in North America, a disease that has been eradicated in Europe for several decades,” said Mr Maillard. 

The animal was officially classed as an “invasive alien species” by the EU in 2016. This is “animals and plants that are introduced accidentally or deliberately into a natural environment where they are not normally found, with serious negative consequences for their new environment”. 

It has shown “strong growth” in France in recent decades, according to the OFB, with three major areas of activity, in the north-east, the centre of the country and the south-west. 

Aisne is home to the original outbreak in the 1960s, which now extends to Marne, Ardennes, Aube and Oise. This is “the oldest and largest population in France” and “appears to be spreading towards eastern France”. 

They are also found in Auvergne, where there have been sightings since the 1970s, and in Gironde, where the animal has been spotted since 2007. 

“It is an invasive species because it has been introduced outside its natural geographical area (North America) by humans, spreads easily with no predators and causes threats to natural wildlife, economics and human health,” said Mr Maillard. 

In September 2025, a raccoon was spotted for the first time in the Pyrénées-Orientales department, prompting experts to ask the public to report further sightings. 

Despite the damage done by raccoons, there is no national strategy to tackle the menace. 

“There is no strategic plan in place. Such a plan would currently require too much funding and would be unrealistic,” said Mr Maillard. 

“At the national level, the authorities' response to the arrival of new invasive species is not sufficiently effective in the absence of a rapid response aimed at eradicating the first invaders. Once the population is widespread, this becomes virtually impossible. We can only avoid the impacts through local management, for example, in nature reserves.” 

Currently, raccoons are trapped and hunted by trappers and non-professional hunters. If people notice raccoons entering their property, they can employ a trapper to catch the animal.