The other day during a hike at the nature center in Göttingen, Germany, we saw several local species of animals, one of those being the wild boar(Sus scrofa scrofa). I mentioned to our guide that in Texas we are currently dealing with a feral pig problem and, interestingly enough, she told me that in Germany they are having a problem with the Waschbären (“wash bear”) or North American raccoon (Procyon lotor).
Come to find out, back in the 1930s someone thought it would be a great idea to bring a few raccoons over to Germany for the purpose of raising them for their fur. After all, back then everyone needed a raccoon coat.
Well of course, as any bad idea goes, the raccoons soon started to escape into the wild. Then during World War II, large breeding farms were destroyed releasing hundreds into the wild.
Over the years, the raccoons have moved from being a cute little nuisance to being a truly dangerous invasive species in Europe. Because they have NO natural predator in Europe they are destroying wine crops and are on the verge of wiping out some native bird populations do to their affinity for bird and duck eggs.
The introduction of non-native species into an ecosystem has never been a good idea. Whether we’re talking about wild boar, raccoons, zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) or kudzu(Pueraria montana var. lobata), a species does not belong outside its own native ecosystem. Species evolve in a given ecosystem by being kept in check, either by predators, seasonal changes, or slow reproduction. Mess with one of these and you tip the apple cart. They don’t need our help, and they sure don’t need us moving them to a place where they are no longer controlled by the natural balance of their original ecosystem.
So please think twice about releasing a lizard, turtle, or fish that you buy in a pet store . . . better yet . . . don’t buy it in the first place. Go out into the woods and find one that’s native to your area.
Don’t buy or plant non-native plants. They will invariably have different water needs than native plants, need more care and fertilizer to keep alive, and if you aren’t careful, just might become the next invasive species that all of us will have to deal with.
A great resource is the USDA’s website: National Invasive Species Information Center where you can find information on identifying invasive species of all kinds, their place of origin, and ways to control them.