Actually they do......Their populations fluctuate over time from normal to vast excessive numbers which I have witnessed here in S. E. Michigan. Fortunately nature has it's own cure for the coon population via a naturally occurring virus called "canine distemper".
Years ago I witnessed such an outbreak that saw at least a half dozen raccoons wandering listlessly around a local golf course in the middle of the day.
When you have a growing population of subdivisions that is taking over natural habitat, the vermin such as the coons, skunks and opossum will flourish and in the rural farmland areas where game birds such as pheasant were common, their eggs will become a primary source of food for these vermin...........
“Fortunately nature has it’s own cure for the coon population via a naturally occurring virus called “canine distemper”.”
Well, that’s what I mean. The native species may over-predate and cause imbalances here and there, of course. However, they have lived in the ecosystem long enough that there are regulatory mechanisms in place to correct it. When an invasive species comes along, there is usually nothing in place to balance them, and it can take a very long time for anything to develop that can balance them.
“When you have a growing population of subdivisions that is taking over natural habitat...”
Well, anytime you throw man into the mix, you’re not really talking about a natural ecosystem anymore. We are the biggest invasive species of all.
We used to have tons of raccoons. Not anymore. Just a few months ago we had one wander up to the garage door - just all out of it. When I saw it laying there a few hours later and barely moving I whacked it over the head with a hammer and triple bagged it for the garbage man.
I was fortunate growing up that by the time I was able to drive and hunt by myself there was a boom in the rabbit population. Did well on roughed grouse too - I imagine they have a cycle as well.