Habitat Use by Prairie Raccoons during the Waterfowl Breeding Season

Abstract

Mobility and habitat use of raccoons (Procyon lotor) in an intensively farmed area of the prairie pothole region were studied during the waterfowl breeding seasons (April-July) of 1973-75. Over 5700 locations of 30 raccoons were analyzed. Movement patterns varied with sex, age, and reproductive status. Adult males moved regularly throughout slightly overlapping ranges that averaged 2560 ha. Yearling males dispersed during May-June but their movements before and after dispersal were similar. Parous or pregnant females (mostly adults) had ranges averaging 806 ha but their movements were confined to smaller areas near the litter site after parturition. Nulliparous yearling females did not disperse and their ranges averaged 656 ha. Building sites, wooded areas, and wetlands were the only habitats preferentially used both at night and during the day. Eighty-one percent of all nocturnal locations and 94 percent of all diurnal locations were in these 3 habitats which comprised only 10 percent of the study area. Use of building sites decreased concomitantly with increased use of wetlands. Upland habitats were seldom used. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 42(l):118-127 Raccoons have increased dramatically in North Dakota in the past 50 years. Prior to 1920 they occurred in low densities, restricted to the wooded valleys (Bailey 1926). Today they are common throughout the state in all habitat types. Waterfowl nesting success in the prairie pothole region has declined markedly during the past 35 years (Miller 1971) and raccoon predation has been considered a major influence in that decline (Duebbert and Kantrud 1974, Nelson and Duebbert 1974, Trauger and Stoudt 1974). There have been numerous studies of raccoon mobility and habitat use (Ellis 1964, Geis 1966, Schnell 1969-70, Johnson 1970, Urban 1970, Schneider et al. 1971, VanDruff 1971, Cowan 1973), but none have been conducted in intensively farmed prairie habitat. The objective of this study was to describe the movements, home ranges, and habitat use characteristics of raccoons in the prairie pothole region during the waterfowl breeding season. A. B. Sargeant provided encouragement, guidance, and assistance in this study from its inception through its editorial phase. R. J. Greenwood freely exchanged data collected by R. D. Eliason and himself. D. A. Davenport, D. B. Siniff, D. H. Johnson, and E. Multer provided valuable advice and assistance. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center financed the study.