"Once They Tasted It, They Kept Coming Back"... The Culprits Who Devastated the Watermelon Fields

Raccoons Devour Watermelons... Damage to Japanese Farms Mounts

In Japan, the rapid increase of invasive raccoons is causing mounting damage to farms during the watermelon harvest season.

On June 15, Japan’s Mainichi Shimbun reported, “As the raccoon population in Chiba Prefecture has surged, watermelon farmers are struggling with severe losses.”

Raccoon. Pixabay

Even with Other Food Available, Only Watermelons Targeted... "Farmers Alone Can’t Cope"

A farmer in his 40s from Yachimata City, Chiba Prefecture, a major watermelon-producing area, lamented, “There’s no way farmers alone can handle this.” In mid-May, while preparing to harvest watermelons he had been cultivating since February in a greenhouse, he discovered that more than 10 melons had been damaged.

Raccoons inflict damage by making small holes in watermelons and digging out the flesh with their front paws, and such traces were observed at the scene.

The farmer immediately installed four motion-sensor lights and two radios, operating them throughout the night, but this time, a different greenhouse was attacked. The raccoons showed no interest in bread and fried chicken placed as bait in box traps—only the watermelons were targeted. He explained, “Once they tasted the watermelon, they only sought it out,” adding, “They seemed to scratch the rind to check for ripeness, and even damaged the young fruits.”

Another farmer in his 40s said that while there was no damage last year, he lost 15 watermelons by May this year. He noted, “Since only one or two watermelons are grown per plant, even a small scratch ruins their market value,” and added, “I have no choice but to install electric fences, but the rising cost of goods is a heavy burden.”

As raccoon-related damage continues, local residents have even started to make jokes about the situation. At a May event in Yachimata City, Chiba Prefecture, farmers told children, “These watermelons were grown by uncles who fought with bears,” with ‘bears’ referring to raccoons in this context.

Abandoned Pet Raccoons Lead to Increase in Wild Population

North American raccoons are omnivorous animals that can use their hands freely and thrive in a variety of environments. According to Chiba Prefecture, raccoons became popular pets in Japan following the broadcast of an animation in 1977, but as many were later abandoned, the wild population grew. They are now designated as a specified invasive species that negatively impacts the ecosystem.

In Chiba Prefecture, raccoons were first confirmed to be breeding in the southern part of the region in the 1990s, and their habitat has steadily expanded to virtually the entire prefecture. The scale of crop damage has also increased significantly. In fiscal year 2006, the damage amounted to 4.58 million yen (about 4,325,000 won), but by fiscal year 2024, it had surged to 46.52 million yen (about 440 million won), more than a tenfold increase. Recently, the Inba District of Chiba Prefecture has seen a particularly sharp spike in cases.

There has also been a growing number of cases where raccoons break into houses and vacant properties. Chiba Prefecture has urged residents to take preventive measures, such as not dumping food waste in fields and sealing gaps in buildings.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.