Fall molt and lipid storage in raccoons (Procyon lotor)

Abstract

Energy storage was examined in relation to the timing of the fall molt in racoons (Procyon lotor) in southwestern Ontario, Canada. Total carcass lipids, corrected for body size, increased curvilinearly over time for juveniles and adults. As well, there were changes in the proportions of the three fall molt categories over time, but these changes were not the same for all four age–sex classes. We suggest that various behavioral and physiological factors are responsible for the differences observed in lipid accumulation and molting over time. Finally, the fall molt had no effect on lipid accumulation by juveniles or adults. For juveniles, lipid stores appeared to have some effect on the start of the fall molt. We suggest that this is due to the need for juveniles to attain a certain level of growth and lipid storage before the fall molt can begin. We conclude that the fall molt and lipid accumulation are occurring simultaneously and that the fall molt is not stressful in adult raccoons. There may be some consequences of growth on the timing of the cycle in juvenile raccoons.