Ecology of the Raccoon (<i>Procyon lotor</i>) from Western Poland

Abstract

Preliminary results on the ecology of raccoon in Poland are presented. The use of space (by radiotelemetry), diet composition and parasite infections (both by scat analysis) were investigated. The home-range size of the raccoon in western Poland averaged 1 km2 in suburban areas (n = 5 individuals), 10 km2 in the Warta Mouth National Park wetland area (n = 5), and 60 km2 for a single individual studied inhabiting woodlands. Space use patterns in relation to habitat type were also studied. About 44% of the biomass consumed by raccoons were mammals, 41% other vertebrates, 12% invertebrates, 2% plant material and only 1% eggs. Three species and one genus of helminths, e.g. the humans pathogen parasite, Baylisascads procyonis, were identified.