Following the killing of the four baby raccoons, which had previously been rescued from a roof by the fire department in Solingen, the German Animal Welfare Association has spoken out. The association firmly rejects the statement by the North Rhine-Westphalia State Hunting Association, as cited in media reports, claiming that an EU regulation mandated the killing of the young animals.
Paulina Kuhn, wildlife specialist at the German Animal Welfare Federation: “When the North Rhine-Westphalia State Hunting Association claims that the killing was legally required, it is spreading a false narrative to retroactively justify cruel decisions. Killing is neither mandated by the EU regulation nor absolutely necessary. The responsible authorities should at least have examined whether it would have been possible to permanently house the animals in suitable facilities.”
Regarding the legal classification, the German Animal Welfare Federation refers to Article 7 of EU Regulation No. 1143/2014 on invasive alien species. It states that invasive species “shall not be intentionally released into the environment.” “Intentional keeping, even in confinement,” is not permitted; however, exceptions exist for rescue centers or zoos. The regulation does not, however, contain a general obligation to kill. Rather, Article 19 explicitly lists “non-lethal measures” as permissible management measures.
Peer Fiesel, President of the North Rhine-Westphalia State Animal Welfare Association, adds: “The killing of the raccoon cubs is unacceptable, especially since other options were available. We collaborate with knowledgeable rescue centers across state lines. Sterilization programs are also, in principle, a sustainable and animal-friendly alternative to killing.”
Raccoons are not native to Germany; individual animals escaped from fur farms or were released into the wild. These highly adaptable animals spread rapidly and are now widespread in Germany. The EU lists raccoons as an invasive alien species. However, there is no scientific evidence that they are primarily responsible for the decline of certain native animal populations.
