The habitat preferences of invasive raccoon dog imply elevated risks for wetland-associated prey species.

ABSTRACT: Habitat preferences of invasive predators determine where and for which prey species they pose a threat upon. This is crucial information for the conservation of endangered prey species because invasive predators pose additional predation on top of that caused by natural predators. In large parts of Europe, the most common invasive mesopredator is the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides). To understand the risk that the raccoon dog poses for wetland-associated species, we collected information about its habitat preferences near these habitats. We used data on 24 GPS-collared raccoon dogs from three landscape types in Finland, to study their spatial and temporal habitat preferences. We first determined their home ranges, within which we then examined habitat use and preferences. Raccoon d

SUBMITTER: Toivonen P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11489220 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature