Raccoons are no longer uncommon in Germany, but they could soon become a problem in Switzerland. A plague is already expected in Waldshut, not far from the Swiss border.
Since the animals know no national borders, they could also appear in the canton of Zurich. So far there is no concrete evidence that the animals could have already spread there. It is assumed that there is a population of a few hundred animals in neighboring Germany. Raccoons can be problematic for local wildlife, for example, they can have negative effects on ground-nesting lapwings, amphibians or the red kite. The animals can also be a nuisance for people, as they often nest in attics or can even transmit diseases, as the Federal Environment Agency reports. The raccoon is becoming more and more of a cute problem bear. Today even the meat of these wild animals is sold as food; for instance, a hunter offers salami and other raccoon products. It's important not to feed the animals, even if they look “cute”.