Home range differences by habitat type of raccoon dogs Nyctereutes procyonoides (Carnivora: Canidae)

• Published in: Journal of Asia-Pacific biodiversity Vol. 10; no. 3; pp. 349 - 354
• Main Authors: Jeong, Wooseog, Kim, Dal-Ho, Yoon, Hachung, Kim, Hee Jong, Kang, Yong-Myong, Moon, Oun-Kyong, Choi, Ji-Da, Park, Hongsik, Cho, Haejin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.09.2017; Elsevier; 국립중앙과학관
• Subjects: agricultural land; animals; biodiversity; disease outbreaks; forests; geographic information system; global positioning systems; habitats; home range; Nyctereutes procyonoides; rabies; researchers; urban areas; wildlife tracking; zoonoses; zoonosis; 생물학; rabies; geographic information system; home range; wildlife tracking; zoonosis
• ISSN: 2287-884X; 2287-9544
• DOI: 10.1016/j.japb.2017.06.001

From July 2013 to November 2014, this research was conducted to secure baseline data to find long-term preventive measures against epidemics from the analysis of home range and movement characteristics of raccoon dogs, which are known as carriers of zoonosis. Researchers conducted a follow-up study with 12 raccoon dogs, each attached with a Global Positioning System mobile transmitter. Analysis of home range used the minimum convex polygon (MCP) method and kernel density estimation (KDE) with accumulating data of time-based locations. Except for three animals that showed unique behavior, the researchers analyzed nine animals and calculated their average home range. As a result, average home range was 0.48±0.35 km2 (MCP method), and KDE result analysis was verified as 0.65±0.66 km2 (95%), 0.31±0.35 km2 (75%), and 0.23±0.28 km2 (50%). Based on the MCP method, acted in range of minimum 0.07 km2 and maximum 1.08 km2, and the core habitat, KDE 50% level showed activity range in 0.02 km2 to 0.37 km2. Three individuals of unique behavior were classified into two types. Two individuals moved 10–20 km and settled at a place different from the existing habitat, and one individual kept moving without a regular sphere of influence. Generally, raccoon dogs are not considered to move if they secure their area of influence; animals in urban areas have a wider area of influence than those living in areas with a rich source of food such as forest and agricultural land.