Have you ever heard of a theory called the Butterfly Effect? Science defines it as a single event, no matter how insignificant, can change the course of the universe forever. There was even a strange movie with Ashton Kutcher made in the early part of this century with the same title. The movie was OK, interesting.
Moreover, this holds true for the automobile industry. The discovery and development of automobiles helped raccoons take over Germany and then Europe.
In the early days of the automobile revolution, it was seen a symbol of freedom and development. Cars in those days were open with no windows to protect the occupants from the cold winds. Roads were nothing like the ones we are used to in the US or other modern countries today (paved!).
They were unpaved and full of potholes (as just referenced). Automobile technology itself was in its infancy which led to a lot of breakdowns due to engine failures. Those were cold days. So the occupants needed to cover themselves in warm fur and leather coats. They chose raccoon fur. Why? Because it was considered cool back in the day.
How Raccoons Entered Germany
Raccoons are freely found in North America making it that much easier for traders and hunters to sell their fur or skin. Legend has it that it was the automobile drivers that first started wearing these raccoon skin made coats making it popular among the young Nazi citizens. Soon everyone wanted a fur coat made out of raccoon skin. Yes, this does seem very strange, cruel, and borderline extremely selfish. They are rough and extremely warm.
Soon Germany started importing raccoon coats and with it, some raccoons as well. German manufacturers started entire farms of raccoon fur, but the raccoons were contained within the facility. In the year 1934, a German hunter by the name of Rolf Haag had the idea of hunting raccoons for fun and profit. It was a different era. Rolf smartly convinced a forest official to free raccoons into the wild.
Reich Forestry Service forwarded the request to the Nazi party official Hermann Goering asking for permission to "enrich the fauna". Soon World War 2 broke out (because of them and their Japanese allies!) and all the hunters were
called upon to serve their country, so they can hunt other humans! Everyone forgot about the 4 imported common raccoons (2 males and 2 females) that were released into the wild because Europe had Germany and Italy to worry about and their future.
Present Day
There are currently 1 million raccoons in Germany. They have invaded cities, suburbs, residential properties, offices, farms, and pretty much everything else. You can also find raccoons in the neighboring countries as far as England and Spain. At present there are no ways to eliminate or contain them.
British tabloids are warning that the "Nazi Raccoons" might cross the English Channel and enter Great Britain. There are numerous complaints against raccoons destroying property, furniture, and damaging goods. The reason for their unchecked explosion seems to be lack of any natural enemies. There are no foxes, wolves, even large birds apparently in Europe that will do the trick and keep these numbers down.
A Small Cottage Industry
It has spawned an entire industry with experts who are wonderful at catching raccoons. Frank Becker is a firewood dealer who also owns a raccoon removal and prevention business. He caught as many as 200 raccoons this year alone.
"No one else does it as professionally as I do," he boasted. "I always succeed, always. Raccoons in Germany don't really have any natural enemies – except me."
He is now concentrating on selling homemade house security systems that help owners in catching raccoons themselves.
But not everyone is in favor of shooting and hunting raccoons. An 80 year old lady allowed more than 50 raccoons to live in her house. She seemed happy (until they decide to attack her!). There are other residents who find them cute and offer them raisins and bananas even though they can be dangerous. These animals are wild; treating them differently is unwise. It seems certain communities are divided on this issue.