Raccoons Invade All Flemish Provinces as Risk Grows

Raccoons (Procyon lotor) have now been sighted in all five Flemish provinces — West Flanders, East Flanders, Antwerp, Flemish Brabant, and Limburg — according to HLN science expert Martijn Peters. Authorities are warning the public not to touch the animals due to significant health risks, while scientists warn that Flanders lacks a formal management plan to address the growing threat.

An Invasive Species on the Move

Originally native to North America, raccoons were introduced to Germany in the 1930s for fur farming and hunting. Escaped and released animals established wild populations that spread across Europe, reaching Belgium over subsequent decades. The European Union classified the raccoon as an invasive alien species in 2016, making it illegal to import, breed, house, or release them, as National Geographic reported.

While Wallonia is home to tens of thousands of raccoons — a population now considered beyond control — Flanders has seen a more recent but accelerating spread. Scientists from the Institute for Nature and Forest Research (INBO) suspect raccoons are now reproducing in the wild in nearly every Flemish province.

Health Risks You Should Know

Raccoons can carry the raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis), a dangerous parasite that can cause severe neurological damage and even death in humans. In the neighboring Dutch province of Limburg, approximately 60% of raccoons are infected with this parasite, according to VILT. The eggs are shed in feces and can survive in the environment for years.

“You recognize it by its broad head with black nose and eye mask, which form a strong contrast with the white eyebrows and snout,” Peters explained, describing how to identify the animal. Raccoons can also be aggressive when approached, and members of the public are advised to avoid all contact.

Ecological and Agricultural Damage

As meso-predators, raccoons prey on fish, amphibians, mollusks, and birds. They pose a particular threat to hole-nesting birds by occupying their cavities and predating on them. They also cause damage to agriculture, particularly maize crops and poultry farms. INBO researcher Tim Adriaens warned that while professional poultry farmers may be able to secure their operations, recreational chicken keepers could face significant losses from egg theft and predation.

A Policy Gap in Flanders

Unlike the Netherlands, which pursues a zero-tolerance policy aiming to eliminate raccoons entirely, and Wallonia, which has established containment zones, Flanders currently has no formal raccoon management plan. INBO has urgently called for action.

“We really can’t wait any longer,” Adriaens told VILT. “In Flanders, we may still be in time to push back the species, but time is running out.”

Adriaens highlighted a critical data deficit: “We are sailing blind,” he said, noting that without systematic population monitoring, effective management is impossible. He called for a surveillance program using a network of wildlife cameras to track raccoon populations before any culling or containment measures can be implemented.

The Challenge of Public Perception

Raccoons benefit from what Adriaens calls the “fluffy exotic” problem — their cute appearance makes eradication measures politically difficult. “Many people know the animals from funny YouTube videos where they try to get food from trash cans and vending machines,” he said. “You will definitely find rabid opponents to their eradication.”

Simon Renckens of the Natuurhulpcentrum was more blunt, telling HVV: “The only thing we can do is take them all out of the wild before it’s too late.”

What to Do If You See a Raccoon

Authorities advise the public to:

• Do not touch or feed raccoons — they can be aggressive and carry dangerous parasites
• Secure trash bins and do not leave food outside
• Report sightings via waarnemingen.be, wildinzicht.be, or the ObsIdentify app

These citizen science platforms help researchers track the spread of this invasive species and inform future management decisions.

What’s Next for Flanders?

The Flemish government launched the “Deze Soort Verstoort” (This Species Disturbs) campaign in April 2026 to raise awareness about invasive exotics, but a specific raccoon management plan remains absent. With confirmed reproduction in all provinces and no coordinated response, the window for effective action is narrowing. As Adriaens warned: “If we wait ten years, we will have to kill many more to achieve the same result.”

The coming months will be critical in determining whether Flanders can avoid following Wallonia’s trajectory — where tens of thousands of raccoons now make eradication impossible.