Ecology of Marsh Raccoons

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Ecology of marsh raccoons (Procyon lotor) was studied during 1949 and 1950 on the state portion of Horicon Marsh, near Horicon, Wis. The shortage of tree dens on the marsh was not a limiting factor for the population since 90% of the raccoons denned permanently in the ground. Analysis of 390 scats and 12 stomachs showed that crayfish and muskrat kits were the principal summer foods. Evidence indicated that a high raccoon population is capable of causing a severe loss of muskrat kits. Observations on duck nests and from scats showed that raccoons are efficient duck nest predators. The yearly variation in raccoon damage to trapped muskrats is due to yearly variations in the abundance of crippled waterfowl as well as climatic differences between years.

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: