Mediated communication and dependence behavioral activity of raccoon dog (<i>Nyctereutes procyonoides</i> Gray, 1834) on weather conditions

Abstract

The raccoon dog is an invasive species in the Samara region. At present, this species is founded in the northern, north-western and western territories of the Samara region, and the most widely spread on Vasilyevsky Islands, near the Rozhdestveno village, in floodplain areas of the national park Samarskaya Luka. According to some authors data, this species may be able to be cause damage to game species, due to its impact on the number of waterfowl. In the Samara region the impact of this predator on hunting species are not mentioned, but a comprehensive study of the behavior, distribution, ecology of the species and its impact on native ecosystems are required. This article describes a study on raccoon dogs mediated communication which was carried out by detailed method of tracking animals winter footprints in the national park Samarskaya Luka in the snow season at 20092015. The dynamics of communicative behavior of raccoon dog at 20092015 is presented. One of the main factors influencing on animals behavior is a snow cover. For the detailed analysis Bodmans index of weather rigidity was applied, using data of the air temperature and wind speed. The data which show differences in behavioral activity of raccoon dogs males and females depending on the weather conditions are presented.