Germany's Hedgehogs Harmless, Raccoon Dogs Unnecessarily Hunted

Hedgehogs, harmless to humans, can be managed with simple deterrents. Raccoon dogs, posing no threat, are hunted unnecessarily. Both can coexist peacefully in Germany.

, and Administrator

2025 October 16 . 4:03 AM

1 min read

In the center of the image there are pigs. At the bottom of the image there is dry grass. In the... — In the center of the image there are pigs. At the bottom of the image there is dry grass. In the background of the image there is a house. There is wall.

Germany's Hedgehogs Harmless, Raccoon Dogs Unnecessarily Hunted

Germany's hedgehog population, estimated at up to 2 million, is generally harmless to humans. Despite this, some people still feel disturbed by their presence. Meanwhile, raccoon dogs, which pose no significant threat to biodiversity, are increasingly hunted by hobby hunters.

Raccoon dogs, also known as raccoon-like canids, are not a threat to Germany's biodiversity. Human infection is rare, occurring only through oral contact with infectious eggs. Yet, they are increasingly targeted by hobby hunters. In contrast, hedgehogs, which feed mainly on earthworms, insects, and fruit, can be deterred or moved on with simple measures if considered unwanted. Germany has been free of terrestrial rabies since 2008, and the risk of raccoon dog roundworm infection is virtually non-existent.

Hedgehogs spend their days in hiding places like tree hollows or abandoned burrows. They can be deterred by avoiding food sources and blocking access to shelters. PETA's recommendations to prevent contact with raccoon dogs in Germany were published by the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR).

While hedgehogs are generally harmless and can be managed with simple deterrents, raccoon dogs, posing no significant threat to biodiversity, are unnecessarily hunted. Both animals can coexist peacefully with humans in Germany.