Nearly a century ago two pairs of North American raccoons were tipped out of crates beside a German reservoir. Those four animals helped launch a population now estimated at close to two million, turning forests and city streets into their playground and leaving locals split over whether the masked mammals are pests or pets.

Four raccoons let loose by a lake in 1934

Back in April 1934 forestry staff near Vohl, about 50 kilometres southwest of Kassel, opened two boxes on the southern shore of the Edersee. Two males and two females of Procyon lotor trotted freely. Official paperwork had been sent to the Prussian hunting office asking permission “to enrich the fauna”, yet the animals were released before formal approval arrived.

For years tourist guides, local politicians and plenty of residents repeated a colourful tale that Nazi bigwig Hermann Göring ordered the release himself. Former Vohl forestry boss Eberhard Leicht dug through the old files and found no evidence Göring ever signed off or even knew about it. “The whole process was simply an administrative matter,” he told investigators. The decision sat with local officials – nothing more.

From tiny group to millions across Germany

Those original four cannot account for today’s numbers alone. After the Second World War more raccoons slipped out of a fur farm in Brandenburg. Genetic tests on more than 400 animals later pointed to at least two further introductions, one near the Czech border in eastern Saxony and another in the Harz Mountains.

Kassel itself has earned the nickname “European capital of the raccoon”, with roughly 30,000 of them living in and around the city. Clever climbers and bin-raiders, they turn up in hospital corridors, power stations, zoos and attic spaces, sometimes leaving thousands of euros’ worth of damage behind. They have also crossed into the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Switzerland and other countries.

Hunting fails to halt the rise

Most German states now allow year-round shooting. Since 2005 the annual cull has quadrupled and now goes over 250,000 animals. Yet numbers keep climbing. Vera Heck, who runs the Federal Association of Wildlife Rescue Organisations, puts it bluntly: “They shoot and shoot and shoot, and every year there are more raccoons!”

The European Union lists the species as an invasive alien of Union concern. Some studies show the animals take eggs of waterbirds and amphibians. Other researchers argue the evidence for wide-scale harm to German biodiversity remains thin. Either way, the population shows no sign of shrinking.

Divided opinions on the masked visitors

In many towns neighbours still put out food each evening, while others dial the hunters the moment a raccoon appears on the roof. Property owners complain of wrecked insulation and chewed wiring. Nature groups worry about pressure on already struggling native species. Ninety-plus years after those first crates were opened beside the Edersee, the raccoons look set to stay.

San Javier recently celebrated the thrilling conclusion of its International Theatre, Music, and Dance Festival. For several vibrant weeks, this idyllic town in Murcia transformed into a premier cultural sanctuary, drawing thousands of theatergoers, music enthusiasts, and arts aficionados to the shores of the Mar Menor. From intense classical tragedies to groundbreaking contemporary choreography, the festival once again proved why it remains one of the most essential gatherings on the Spanish summer arts calendar.

A triumphant season on the Mediterranean stage

At the centre of the festival was the open-air Auditorio Parque Almansa venue. Under warm Mediterranean summer skies, the iconic amphitheatre hosted a succession of remarkable theatrical productions that spanned centuries of dramatic literature. Audiences were treated to performances of timeless masterpieces including Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Lope de Vega’s La Dama Boba, and Federico García Lorca’s La Barraca. The programme balanced these revered classics with daring contemporary interpretations by emerging local talents. Each performance demonstrated a deep commitment to preserving dramatic tradition while giving contemporary directors room to create.

Electrifying flamenco and headline music performances

Dance and music were just as essential to the festival’s theme, delivering some of the summer’s most emotionally resonant moments. A renowned local dancer, Rocío Molina, brought extraordinary physical expression and raw flamenco energy to the stage, captivating audiences with her bold artistry. In music, the schedule reached a powerful emotional high point during the headlining concert by the iconic Spanish singer Luz Casal. Her voice echoed through the outdoor arena to a packed house, creating an unforgettable atmosphere that highlighted the festival’s ability to feature top-tier international and national talent.

Throughout the month, free outdoor showcases brought high-calibre street theatre and modern dance directly into social community spaces. San Javier’s Plaza España became an open-air stage for thought-provoking pieces like Sísifos and Winter Speaks. Meanwhile, seaside crowds along the waterfront esplanades of Santiago de la Ribera and the bustling marina at Puerto Tomás Maestre in La Manga del Mar Menor enjoyed impromptu performance installations with the sea as their backdrop.

Bringing the performing arts to coastal streets in San Javier

Complementing the live performances, the Teatro de Invierno hosted a curated film series, called their Ciclo de Cine, offering cinephiles a thoughtful cinematic perspective that enriched the overall artistic dialogue. As production crews dismantle the sets and the town returns to its tranquil coastal routine, local organisers and attendees alike reflect on another magnificent edition of this event. The festival has not only entertained countless residents and visitors in the charming Costa Calida town, but has also reaffirmed San Javier’s proud legacy as a hub of artistic excellence and creative community spirit.

A fast-moving wildfire is putting homes and communities in western Spain at risk, with residents already forced to leave their properties and fears growing that more people could be displaced as the flames push towards Salamanca. The blaze has ripped through countryside in Cáceres since Tuesday afternoon, with around 2,200 hectares now affected.

The most dangerous part of the fire is moving towards Cerezal and Nuñomoral, while another front has crossed the provincial boundary into Salamanca. Around 700 people have already had to leave ten small settlements. They cannot yet return, as firefighters have warned that the fire could change behaviour rapidly during the hottest and windiest part of the day. 

More people could be forced out

Residents of Nuñomoral are facing the possibility of further restrictions as the fire approaches the municipality. Rather than ordering an evacuation, authorities have told people there to remain indoors, close their windows and doors and follow emergency instructions.

The town has around 1,200 inhabitants, meaning any deterioration could affect a substantial number of people. Those already evacuated include residents of Horcajo, Avellanar, Erías, Castillo, El Gasco, Martilandrán, Aldehuela, La Fragosa, Robledo and Cerezal. People have been taken to temporary accommodation, with 230 currently registered at the student residence in Caminomisco. A further 57 places remain available there.

A centre for people with severe disabilities has also been cleared. Thirty-eight residents of the Cottolengo centre were moved to safer accommodation after the fire threatened the area.  The authorities have kept all the evacuation orders in place because they cannot guarantee that the affected communities are safe enough for residents to return.

The fire has reached Salamanca

The blaze began at around 2.30pm on Tuesday near Robledo, in the municipality of Pinofranqueado, in Cáceres. It initially spread through the Las Hurdes area before advancing towards the neighbouring province. By Wednesday, the flames had crossed into Salamanca around Vegas de Domingo Rey, in the municipality of Agallas.

That has brought firefighting teams from Castilla y León into the response and created a new concern for communities on the Salamanca side of the border.  For readers unfamiliar with the area, Las Hurdes is a mountainous region in northern Cáceres, close to the Salamanca border. The fire’s movement means what began as a local emergency in Extremadura is now affecting a second province.

2,200 hectares already affected

Around 2,200 hectares have been affected, predominantly pine forest, although the figure remains an estimate while the fire continues to develop.  The greatest concern is not simply the amount of land already burned, but what could happen if the fire reaches the Valle de los Tejos. Authorities have warned that the large amount of vegetation in the area could allow the flames to intensify rapidly.

The fire has already shown unusually aggressive behaviour. It has generated pyrocumulus clouds, created by the enormous amount of heat released by the flames, which can produce their own atmospheric conditions. That can make the direction and speed of a wildfire much harder to predict. Burning embers, known as pavesas, have also been carried away from the main fronts and caused fresh outbreaks on the western side of the fire. 

Difficult conditions are hampering firefighters

High temperatures, low humidity and strong winds are adding to the difficulty. The terrain is another major obstacle. Parts of the fire are too steep and inaccessible for crews to work directly on foot or with heavy machinery. The head of the fire towards Cerezal and Nuñomoral is currently causing the greatest concern because of the amount of combustible vegetation and the difficulty of reaching it.

Crews have had more success in other areas. The western flank towards Horcajo has been closed, while sections around El Gasco, La Fragosa and Martilandrán have shown slower fire behaviour.   More than 240 emergency personnel and 24 aircraft are involved in the operation, with the Unidad Militar de Emergencias, wildfire teams and crews from Castilla y León among those working to contain the blaze. 

Fire is believed to have been deliberate

Investigators are also looking into whether the fire was deliberately started. Extremadura’s regional government has put the likelihood of intentional ignition at 99 per cent. The suspected starting point is beside a road between Robledo and Avellanar, although the investigation has not yet formally established the cause.  Three homes in Avellanar have also been damaged by the fire.

For residents who have already fled, the key question is when they can safely return. At present, officials have made clear that there is not enough certainty to lift the evacuation orders. With the fire now extending into Salamanca and the most difficult front still threatening communities in Cáceres, the possibility of further evacuations remains if the flames intensify.