Seasonal activity changes in raccoon dogs and influences of environmental factors from autumn to winter

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

Raccoon dogs Nyctereutes procyonoides are on the List of National Key Protected Wild Animals as Grade II in China; research on their wild populations is limited despite their conservation significance. In this context, we focused on seasonal activity changes from autumn to winter and their relationship to environmental and mammalian factors. Using 71 trail cameras from 15 October 2023 to 29 February 2024, in the Sizuolou Nature Reserve in Beijing, China, this study is the first to examine these specific aspects within the country. Our findings revealed a statistically significant change in raccoon dog activity from autumn to winter. This suggests they may enter short periods of winter sleep, as indicated by the 20‐day intervals without camera detections. The average re‐photographing interval was 2.62 ± 3.41 (SD) days. In the daily activity pattern, kernel density estimation indicated that raccoon dogs were nocturnal in both seasons; however, daytime activity was observed only in autumn. Our results revealed that proximity to agricultural land negatively affected, and the presence of Siberian roe deer positively influenced, the number of raccoon dog events. Additionally, our results supported the previous categorisation of raccoon dogs into two habitat types, with our study population being near the type that avoids agricultural land. Our findings suggested that raccoon dogs and Siberian roe deer co‐occur due to raccoon dogs preferring habitats that were also favoured by deer.