Raccoon Rampage: A Game about Invasive Species and Difficult Decisions
Nora Gau
Invasive alien species are among the most underestimated drivers of biodiversity loss. What happens when this complex challenge becomes a board game? Developed by biodiversity researcher Bernd Lenzner and colleagues, Raccoon Rampage turns research into a playable experience, showing how ecological change, political decisions and public perception interact, and why invasive alien species require attention before their impacts become irreversible.
Alexander | Adobe stock
How Invasive Species (First) Make Themselves Noticed
For many people, invasive alien species first appear not as an abstract environmental problem, but as a personal inconvenience. The common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), for instance, has become notorious across Europe for extending pollen allergy seasons well into autumn. Native to North America, ragweed spread quietly through contaminated bird feed and seed mixes, transported soil and agricultural machinery. In response, the European Union introduced regulations in 2012 to limit seed contamination - an early policy reaction to a problem still known mainly through itchy eyes and runny noses.
What is less widely recognised is that “invasive alien species are one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss,” says Bernd Lenzner, biodiversity researcher at the University of Vienna and member of the Environment and Climate Research Hub (ECH). “They have contributed to around 60 per cent of recorded extinct species worldwide and cause enormous economic costs. Yet their impacts often unfold gradually, so people only notice them when it is already too late.”
From allergy-inducing plants to ecosystem engineers, invasive alien species shape human lifes and natural systems in subtle but profound ways. And few examples capture this tension between familiarity and ecological disruption as clearly as the raccoon.
When cute turns consequential
With its black eye mask, dexterous paws and ability to thrive in cities, the raccoon (Procyon Lotor) has become a favourite on social media. This appeal, however, masks a more troubling reality. In parts of Europe where raccoons are invasive, they prey on birds, bats and amphibians, raid nests, damage buildings and crops, and spread disease. Their success reflects the very traits people find appealing, including intelligence and adaptability, combined with the absence of natural predators that would otherwise limit their spread. “The raccoon is a very charismatic species,” Lenzner explains. “It speaks to people’s emotions. We intuitively ask how such a cute-looking animal can be a problem. That ambivalence makes it a great example to highlight the wide range of impacts invasive species can have.”
The raccoon’s European presence is no accident of nature. Introduced in the 1930s for the fur trade and later escaping from farms and private captivity, a small number of individuals gave rise to populations now spreading across large parts of the continent. The pattern is familiar worldwide: Grey squirrels, introduced from North America in the late nineteenth century, have displaced native red squirrels in the United Kingdom. In Australia, European rabbits released by settlers for hunting rapidly spread and transformed entire landscapes. Zebra and quagga mussels arrived in North America’s Great Lakes via ballast water from transoceanic ships, reshaping freshwater ecosystems and infrastructure. Each region has its own silent invaders, different species driven by similar human-mediated dynamics.
davit85 | Adobe stock
Alexander | Adobe stock
Why science communication needs new formats
Despite their scale, invasive alien species remain a communication challenge. Their management sits at the intersection of ecology, economics, ethics and politics. Decisions affect agriculture, conservation, urban planning and public health, often involving conflict between stakeholders with competing values. “If we talk about invasive alien species, we are talking about future decisions,” says Lenzner. “ The public often realises there is a problem only once the damage is visible. Our task is to make this knowledge accessible earlier.” This conviction led to Raccoon Rampage, a game-based science communication format developed by Lenzner together with ecologists, linguists, game developers and science-to-policy experts. The goal was not simplification, but engagement.
A game as a bridge between science, policy and the public
Raccoon Rampage exists in two closely linked versions. One is a cooperative board game designed for the general public. The other is a role-play-based science-to-policy simulation for policymakers, authorities and stakeholders. Both are grounded in EU-funded research projects such as InvasiBES and AlienScenarios which developed plausible future pathways for biological invasions in Europe.
While the raccoon serves as the flagship species, the game system is also playable with other invasive alien species - including the Asian hornet (Vespa velutina), the marbled crayfish (Procambarus virginalis) and common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) - allowing players to explore very different ecological and social dynamics within the same framework.
Initially designed to gather stakeholder input, the format revealed a broader potential. “Games are a great way to conduct and communicate science,” Lenzner says. “People become very invested and learn a lot without necessarily noticing that they are learning.” Players take on roles such as environmental agencies, hunters, farmers or animal rights advocates, negotiating under limited budgets, shifting public opinion and ecological uncertainty. There are no easy answers - only trade-offs and a common goal.
Playing with Europe’s possible futures
The future scenarios embedded in Raccoon Rampage are scientifically developed, not fictional backdrops. Built by experts from a wide range of disciplines, they reflect different trajectories for Europe: climate extremes, rapid urbanisation, or political fragmentation. “The scenarios are plausible views of how the future might unfold,” says Lenzner. “Uncertainty is built into the game through choices and discussions, while keeping it simple enough to remain fun.”
Raccoon Rampage shows how science communication can be both playful and rigorous. By turning research into an interactive game, it brings complex ecological and policy challenges to life. At a time when information and misinformation compete for attention, such formats help players experience the consequences of scientific insights firsthand. “There is no single communication channel that appeals to everyone,” adds Lenzner. “Having diverse ways of communicating our research increases the chance of getting more people excited about the topics we work on.”
If players leave the table talking about invasive alien species - whether raccoons, ragweed or hornets - the game has already succeeded. Sometimes, it seems, the path to understanding Europe’s ecological futures begins not with a report, but with a roll of the dice.
Raccoon Rampage at a Glance
- Audience: Students, researchers, practitioners, and the general public
- Duration: 60–120 minutes
- Species: Marbled Crayfish, North American Raccoon, and Common Ragweed
- Gameplay: Four possible future scenarios per species, a map of Europe to track spread, 6–7 unique player roles per species with individual priorities and beliefs
- Bonus Edition: Asian Hornet Remix focused on Catalonia with a single scenario
- Theme: Adaptation to a changing Europe
- Recognition: Finalist, International Learning Game Competition, European Conference on Games Based Learning 2022, Lisbon, Portugal
Bernd Lenzner
Further Links
- To the board game (including downloadable material)
- Role playing game version (including downloadable material)
- Online version of the game on tabletopia
About the researcher
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Bernd Lenzner is a researcher at the University of Vienna in the Division of Bioinvasions, Global Change and Macroecology within the Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research. A terrestrial ecologist, he focuses on understanding broad-scale patterns of biodiversity, particularly in relation to biological invasions, and investigates their ecological, socio-economic, and societal drivers. His work bridges ecological research with the human dimensions of global change, providing insights into how invasive species interact with ecosystems and society.
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