Behavioral response of raccoon (Procyon lotor) to experimental manipulation of density / Diane L. Borden
Material type: TextSeries: Thesis ; (M.S.)Publication details: Cookeville, TN : Tennessee Technological University, 1990.Description: ix, 38 leaves : ill., maps ; 28 cmOnline resources: Abstract: As part of a study to assess the behavioral response of an island population of raccoons (Procyon lotor) to reduction in density, 10 animals were removed seasonally and held in covered wire cages at the field station on the mainland. Raccoons were fed 250-300 g of dry dog food and provided water ad libitum. During the fall, captives averaged a loss in weight of 0.18 g/ day/ animal; during winter, spring, and summer animals gained an average of 0.39, 1.45, and 7.82 g/ day/ animal,respectively. Weight change per day was independent of retention time,sex, season, and an interaction of sex and season. The holding facility served as effective, temporary housing for raccoons. Scent-station visits were evaluated as an index of raccoon abundance within the Central Basin of Tennessee. The inherent assumption that visitation rates vary directly with abundance was tested by experimentally manipulating the density of an island population of raccoons. General protocol for scent stations followedItem type | Current library | Collection | Call number | Status | Date due | Barcode |
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Thesis(M.S.)--Tennessee Technological University, 1990.
"May 1990."
Includes bibliographical references.
As part of a study to assess the behavioral response of an island population of raccoons (Procyon lotor) to reduction in density, 10 animals were removed seasonally and held in covered wire cages at the field station on the mainland. Raccoons were fed 250-300 g of dry dog food and provided water ad libitum. During the fall, captives averaged a loss in weight of 0.18 g/ day/ animal; during winter, spring, and summer animals gained an average of 0.39, 1.45, and 7.82 g/ day/ animal,respectively. Weight change per day was independent of retention time,sex, season, and an interaction of sex and season. The holding facility served as effective, temporary housing for raccoons. Scent-station visits were evaluated as an index of raccoon abundance within the Central Basin of Tennessee. The inherent assumption that visitation rates vary directly with abundance was tested by experimentally manipulating the density of an island population of raccoons. General protocol for scent stations followed