jr

tJC'» !^'^'' TABLE OF CONTENTS

dZ<^P^^ Page

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv

ABSTRACT v

LIST OF TABLES vi

LIST OF FIGURES vii

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION 1

CHAPTER TWO

STUDY AREA 3

CHAPTER THREE

METHODS AND MATERIALS 6

Live Trapping 6

Immobilization, Handling, and Measuring . . . 6

Sexing and Aging 6

Marking and Radio Collaring 7

Home Range and Movement 7

Den-Site Selection 8

Habitat Use 8

Transplant Raccoon 9

CHAPTER FOUR

HOME RANGE AND MOVEMENT 10

RESULTS 10

Adult Females 10

Adult Males 12

Juvenile Females 14

Juvenile Males 14

SUM IARY 19

CHAPTER FIVE

DEN SITES 21

RESULTS 21

Playa Basins 21

Agriculture 22

Pastures 22

Man-made Structures 23 • m

11

Page

SUMMARY 23

CHAPTER SIX

HABITAT RELATIONSHIPS 26

SUMMARY 28

CHAPTER SEVERN

TRANSPLANT RACCOON 30

RESULTS 30

SUMMARY 32

LITERATURE CITED 35

APPENDIX 38

111

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I wish to thank my committee members Dr. Robert Baker and Dr. Fred

S. Guthery for the helpful suggestions and review of the manuscript.

I would especially like to thank my committee chairman. Dr. Eric G,

Bolen* for his guidance and friendship, and also Dr. C. David Simpson,

who essentially chaired the thesis except for the final stages of

completion.

I am truly indebted to all the landowners for their kindness and

generosity to me and to this research. I wish to thank F. A. and

Lucille Smith; Preston, Lavern, and Reent Upshaw; Jimmy Ray, Greta, and

Jami Davis, and Richard Ellis for their friendship, hospitality, and

kindness extended to me.

Much appreciation is extended to Elouise Phillips, Kay Arellano,

Becky Watkins, and Nila Brazell for their clerical help and also to

graduates and undergraduates who assisted in data collection.

Special thanks go to Karl Launchbaugh, Bok Sowell, and Ben Koerth

for their many diversions, distractions, music, and lifetime friendship.

Most of all, love and appreciation go to my wife Maggie for her

support, patience and encouragement throughout this research.

iv

ABSTRACT

Raccoons occur throughout the state of Texas. With the recent

dispersal of raccoons in Castro County and increased interest in

conservation of wetlands, there is a need for data on the importance

of playa basins to raccoons as well as other wildlife in the area.

This study was designed to evaluate the importance of playa basins to

raccoons and document the significance of these basins with respect

to; (1) home range and movements of raccoons and, (2) the den-site

selection of raccoons. The study area selected was Castro County,

Texas, and portions of Lamb and Hale Counties, Texas.

Raccoon home ranges varied from 795-3,845 ha. Adult males had

the largest home range areas and juvenile females had the smallest.

Adults and males moved significantly greater (P<0.10) distances than

juveniles and females. However, there was no significant interaction

(P>0.10) between sex and age classes, indicating these characteristics

acted independently of each other.

Sixty eight percent of the den sites were located on playa

basins, 19% in croplands, 3% in pastures, and 10% in man-made structures

All den sites located in vegetation were surrounded by cover 1.0 m or

taller.

Playa basins were used significantly more (P<0.10) in proportion

to their availability while croplands were used significantly less

(P<0.10) in proportion to their availability. Pastures were used in

proportion to their availability.

Playa basins were very important to raccoon use throughout the

year, providing food, water, and cover; however, croplands, especially

com fields were seasonally important to raccoon use.

LIST OF TABLES

Page

1. Occurrence of den/rest site observations in 4 habitats

for raccoons in Castro County, Texas 25

2. Habitat use by radio collared raccoons compared to

proportion availability to show habitat preferences in

Castro County, Texas 27

3. Habitat use by a radio collared raccoon transplanted to

the Castro County, Texas study area from Donley County,

Texas. Comparison with habitat availability indicates

preference 33

VI

LIST OF FIGURES

Page

1. Castro, Lamb, and Hale counties: s±udy area . . . . . 5

2. Home range of AF raccoon #12, 24 April - 4 September

1980, in Castro County, Texas, encompassing 1,896 ha. 11

3. Monthly home range shifts for AF raccoon #12 in Castro

County, Texas 13

4. Home range of AM raccoon #22, 15 August - 18 December


5. Home range of JF raccoon #17, 5 June - 12 October


6. Home range of JM raccoon #20, 21 July - 6 September


7. Home range of transplant raccoon, 11 May - 28 June

1980, in Castro County, Texas, encompassing 288 ha. . 31

Vll

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

The raccoon (Procyon lotor) occurs throughout the United States

except for parts of New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Colorado,

Montana, and Wyoming (Burt and Grossenheider 1976). Distribution on the

Southern High Plains of Texas is based on 4 county records (Davis 1974).

Castro County, Texas, had no record of raccoon occurrence prior to this

study.

Although considerable research has been published on various aspects

of raccoon ecology (Stuewer 1943, Sanderson 1961, Fritzell 1978), little

is known about its life history in Texas. Previous research has addressed

food habits in east Texas (Baker et al. 1945, Wood 1954), reproduction

and rate of increase in the post oak region (Wood 1955), parasitic helminths

in east Texas (Chandler 1942), and serology of infectious diseases in

south Texas (Cook et al. 1965). The lack of information of raccoons in

other regions of Texas points to the need for further research.

Stuewer (1943) and Fleming (1975) have shown the importance of water

to raccoons. However, its importance to raccoons in the Texas High Plains

is not known. Sources of available water for raccoon use within the High

Plains are draws, tailwater recovery pits, and playa basins. Prior to the

1930's. in the Castro County study area, playa basins were largely ephemeral

and draws were permanent, spring-fed creeks (F. A. Smith pers. commun.).

Today, many basins have been modified to hold water for longer periods,

and, in some instances, contain permanent water. Deep-well irrigation

has lowered the underlying Ogallala Aquifer level to the point where draws

are no longer spring-fed. Water in draws is now ephemeral from seasonal

precipitation and irrigation runoff.

In Castro County, long-term residents independently corroborated

that few raccoons existed in draws or playa basins prior to the 1930's.

After establishment of deep-well irrigation in the 1950's, raccoon numbers

and distribution appeared to increase. Thus, despite adequate water

resources from draws prior to the 1930's, raccoons were apparently not

abundant in this area. However, since 1950 they may have become more

widely dispersed in association with modern agricultural development and

longer-lasting surface water in playa basins.

1

2

With the recent dispersal of raccoons in Castro County and increased

interest in conservation of wetlands, there is a need for data on the

importance of playa basins to raccoons as well as other wildlife in the

area. This study was designed to evaluate the importance of playa basins

to raccoons and document the significance of these basins with respect to

home range, movements, and den-site selection.

CHAPTER II

STUDY AREA

The study area was principally located in Castro County, Texas, in

the Southern High Plains. The topography consists of flatland, broken by

draws and playa basins (Frye and Byron 1957). The county is approximately 2

2,300 km with elevation ranging from 1,100-1,200 m. Average annual

precipitation is 44.0 cm with 78% of this falling during May through

October. Winters are mild and dry with an average of 193 frost-free days

per year (Bruns 1974).

The study area consisted of intensive agriculture and some pastures

with no trees other than a few remnant species in draws, playa basins,

and limited homestead shelterbelts. Major agricultural crops included

corn, wheat, cotton, grain sorghum, and various vegetable crops (Bruns

1974). To a lesser extent, beef and dairy production are also important

in the area, using locally-grown grain for feedlots (Moore 1980).

Farming practices whithin the study area consist of deep-well

irrigation and some dry-land farming. Water supplies for irrigation are

obtained from the underlying Ogallala Aquifer, which extends from the

Southern High Plains of Texas and New Mexico northward through portions

of Oklahoma, Colorado, and Kansas.

The extensive study area encompassed approximately 67,770 ha and was

located in southeastern Castro and portions of northern Lamb and Hale

counties. The area within which all collared raccoon locations were

obtained was the intensive study area (Fig. 1).

Within the 23,872-ha intensive study area there were 2 major draws.

North Fork of Running Water Draw and Running Water Draw, and 64 playa

basins. These playa basins are pluvial basins consisting of Randall clays

(Bruns 1974) that act as permanent or ephemeral reservoirs for water.

Because of the slow soil permeability of Randall clays, these basins lose

much of their water by evaporation.

Major vegetation associated with basins that were not cultivated

largely consisted of emergents such as bulrush (Scirpus spp.), cattail

(Typha spp.), smartweed (Polygonum spp.), and spikerush (Eleocharis spp.).

Kochia (Kochia scoparia), and barnyard grass (Echinochloa crusgalli),

3

4

were also found in close association with basins. In some cases pondweed

(Potamogeton spp.) was found in basins with permanent water.

NTENSIVE STUDY AREA

Figure 1. C a s t r o , Lamb, and Hale coun t i e s study area .

CHAPTER III

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Live Trapping

Forty 18 gauge wire Tomahawk live traps (Tomahawk Co., Tomahawk,

Mich.) were used to capture raccoons. Sardines, catfish, tuna fish, duck

carcasses, jelly, apples, and shiny materials were used for bait. The

most successful bait was apples.

The trapping period extended from August 1979 to November 1980.

Traps were placed on playa basins, tailwater recovery pits, and possible

den/rest sites. Traps were checked every morning and evening, and trapping

effort was recorded as one trap/night for each setting.

During the trapping period human interference was encountered. This

included trap damage, theft of animals, or theft of traps. In some

instances traps were damaged beyond repair. At the end of the trapping

period only 22 out of 40 traps remained, thereby affecting trapping effort

and coverage.

Immobilization, Handling, and Measuring

Captured animals were confined in the trap and their movements

restricted with a wooden plunger (E. G. Bolen, pers. commun.). Ketamine

hydrochloride (Parke-Davis, Detroit, Mich.) was used to anesthetize

captured individuals because of its broad safety margins and short recovery

time (Bigler and Hoff 1974). Each animal was injected intramuscularly in

the posterior region of the body with a dosage of 22 mg/kg body weight.

The time period from injections to a tranquilized state was recorded for

each anesthetized raccoon (Appendix A).

Standard measurements and weight were taken for each animal. These

were right ear length, right hind foot length, tail length, total body

length, and total body weight. Weight and growth differences were also

measured on all recaptured animals.

Sexing and Aging

Sex determination was based on the presence or absence of an os penis

and by the locations of urinary openings (Sanderson 1950). Penis

6

7

extrusability and size, teat size and color (Sanderson 1961), and tooth

wear (Grau 1968) were used to age raccoons. Animals were placed into 5

age classes; 0-14 months, 15-38 months, 39-57 months, 58-86 months, and

86 months or older (Grau 1968). Animals less than 14 months were

referred to as juveniles and those older than 14 months as adults.

Marking and Radio Collaring

Captured raccoons were ear tagged following Butterfield (1944). A

numbered commercial metal poultry tag was placed in each ear to identify

retrapped animals and mortalities. During the first 4 months of trapping,

colored ear streamers were used in conjunction with metal ear tags. Ear

streamers were discontinued after 1979 when it was found that streamers

were missing from retrapped individuals and marked mortalities. Raccoons

also were toe clipped in a numerical series to aid identification by

tracks.

Thirteen raccoons were collared with L2B5 transmitters attached to

the animals with a special cable-collar configuration (Telonics, Mesa,

Az.). Collars were fastened with an alimiinum lock bolt and weighed

approximately 80 g. When the collar was attached, enough space was

allowed to permit the animal to function normally. Collars were checked

with the receiver to assure proper working order before raccoons were

released.

Home Range and Movement

A 148 Mhz frequency receiver and a hand held yagi antenna were used

to monitor locations of 9 radio-collared raccoons for home range and

movement data. Located animals were monitored at approximately 30-minute

intervals throughout each monitoring night. Also, one diurnal location

was obtained between 1200 and 1600 h whenever possible. Triangulation

was used to pinpoint animal locations.

Daily locations and movements were plotted on county maps, then

transposed onto USGS topographic maps each month. Home range was delimited

by the modified minimum home range method (Harvey and Barbour 1965).

Home range size was determined for each radio-collared raccoon using

only telemetric locations obtained from date of release to date of radio

failure.

8

Telemetric locations, recaptures, mortalities, and identified tracks

were combined to provide movement data. Distance moved was calculated

by summation of all locations for an individual from the time of departure

from a rest site until the next rest site was established (Siniff and

Tester 1965). Marked tracks were used to continue monitoring movements

outside home range areas subsequent to radio failure. A split-plot

analysis and Duncan's multiple range test (Steel and Torie 1978) were

used to analyze movement data and differences between means for sex and

age classes.

Den-Site Selection

Den-site analysis did not include qualitative separation between

den and rest sites because of the lack of defined differences. Therefore,

den and rest sites are used synonymously in this report.

Information taken at each den/rest site, was surface temperature,

air temperature, and distance to nearest surface water. Each den/rest

site was located with telemetry equipment between 1200 and 1600 h.

Analysis of den/rest site data was based on percent occurrence of all

sites within those habitats used for denning/resting by raccoons.

Habitat Use

Habitat use by raccoons was investigated to determine preferences

using a non-mapping utilization vs. availability technique (Marcum and

Loftsgaarden 1980). Assumptions associated with the technique are that

all habitats are available for selection by each animal and that animal

locations be determined randomly.

The null hypothesis formulated was that each raccoon used each

habitat in proportion to its availability within the individual's home

range. A Chi-square test was conducted on the recorded use of each

habitat, using playa basins, pastures, and agricultural land as primary

habitat categories, and corn, wheat, cotton, milo, sunflower, alfalfa,

oats, and fallow fields as subheadings under agricultural land.

To examine habitat preferences, simultaneous confidence intervals

were constructed using the proportion of each habitat and observed number

of raccoon locations in each habitat (Marcum and Loftsgaarden 1980).

9

If the confidence interval for any habitat included 0, that habitat was

used in proportion to its availability. If 0 was not within the confidence

interval and both end points were positive, the habitat was used

significantly less (P<0.10) in proportion to its availability. If 0 was

not within the confidence interval and both end points were negative,

the habitat was used significantly more (P<0.10) in proportion to its

availability.

Transplant Raccoon

During the course of this study the opportunity arose to instrument

and compare data from a transplant raccoon to data collected on resident

raccoons. A juvenile female was transplanted from Donley County, Texas,

to the Castro County, Texas study area. The same methodology was applied

to monitoring the transplant female as described earlier for resident

raccoons.

CHAPTER IV

HOME RANGE AND MOVEMENT

Home range for raccoons has been researched by numerous workers.

Lotze (1979) compiled a thorough review of these studies showing author,

state, method used, sex and age, number of data points, duration of study,

and home range size. Researchers also have shown great differences in

movement patterns for raccoons throughout the United States. In east-

central Illinois, Ellis (1964) found raccoons moved an average minimum

distance of 196 m per daylight tracking period. In contrast, Fritzell

(1978) found raccoons in the prairie pothole region of North Dakota

traveled mean distances of 1.2 km to 3.7 km during nocturnal hours.

Urban (1970) and Fleming (1975), working in Ohio and Louisiana, respectively,

reported similar findings to Fritzell (1978).

RESULTS

Adult Females

Radio contact was lost with 2 of the 3 adult females (AF) within 1

week of release. Only 1 individual was monitored long enough for adequate

home range and movement analysis.

AF #7 was collared 16 September 1980. On 28 September 1980 the collar

was found 1.3 km from the release site submerged in a runoff pit under

water and mud. The presence of her marked tracks around the pit and

condition of the radio collar, which was retrieved from the water, led to

the assumption that she was taken by a local trapper and the collar

discarded into the pit. AF #41 was collared 4 November 1980. On 9

November 1980 the collar was found inside a closed trap, indicating AF #

41 had been retrapped and removed from the area. Trap appearance, marked

tracks, and collar condition again led to the assumption of removal by a

local trapper.

AF #12 was instrumented 24 April 1980 and monitored regularly over

a 4-month period until radio contact was lost after 4 September 1980.

Her established home range during this period was 1,896 ha (Fig. 2).

This animal exhibited a mean nightly movement of 2.7 km ranging from 0.6-

11.6 km

10

11

Figure 2. Home range of AF raccoon #12, 24 April - 4 September 1980, in

Castro County, Texas, encompassing ],896 ha.

12

AF #12 gave birth to 6 kits on approximately 22 April 1980 in a

haystack located next to a playa basin. Her movements apparently were

not restricted by the presence of her kits. During the first 2 weeks

after parturition the female traveled up to 5.3 km from the nest at night

but always returned and denned there just before or shortly after dawn.

In the second 2 weeks the female traveled similar distances up to 5.5 km

from the nest. At this time she began returning to the nest on alternate

evenings, denning at the nest overnight on 2 occasions and visiting the

den on 3 other occasions. During the final 2 weeks and 4 days before the

nest was abandoned, the female continued movements up to 4.9 km from the

nest but only visited for short periods of time during night. During the

day she denned under an abandoned house once and an abandoned shed twice,

both of which were close to the nest.

Marked tracks in June showed AF #12 was traveling with all 6 kits.

This situation continued until 5 August 1980 when only 4 kits were recorded

traveling with her. AF #12's use of playa basins with cover, food, and

water remained constant throughout the monitoring period, but the area

used changed from month-to-month (Fig. 3). Similar shifts were indicated

by all raccoons monitored long enough to map these changes. Monthly locations

showed heavy use of playa basins that contained areas of dense vegetation.

Areas between basins were traveled through corn fields where standing

crops also provided cover and food for raccoons.

Adult Males

Only 2 of the 3 collared adult males (AM) were monitored long enough

to offer adequate data for analysis.

AM #19 was killed by an automobile 3 days after instrumentation and

release. The collar was retrieved and used again. AM #18 was collared

18 June 1980 and monitored until radio contact was lost 31 July 1980.

The animal's home range for the period was 1,049 ha. Mean nightly

movement for this individual was 2.7 km, ranging from 0.4-3.9 km.

Concentration of telemetric locations were on playa basins having abundant

cover, food, and water from June through August, and in standing com

fields adjacent to these basins.

AM #22 was collared 15 August 1980 and monitored until loss of radio

13

24 April - 31 May 1980 1 June - 30 June 1980 1 July - 31 July 1980 1 August - 4 September 1980

Playa Basin

1 KILOMETER

Figure 3 . Monthly home range s h i f t s for AF raccoon #12 in Cast ro County, Texas

14

AM #22 was collared 15 August 1980 and monitored until

loss of radio contact 18 December 1980. This individual had

the largest home range of all instrumented raccoons,

encompassing 3854 ha (Fig. 4). Mean movement was 5.6 km,

ranging from 0.7-13.7 km. This was, again, the largest mean

nightly distance traveled for collared individuals. Telemetric

locations were concentrated on playa basins and adjacent corn

fields. The area used by this animal varied monthly but close

proximity to playa basins seemed important.

Both monitored AM's showed heavy use of playa basins and

associated standing crops. However, AM #22 later restricted

his movements and the size of his home range after October,

following corn and cotton harvests.

Juvenile Females

Juvenile female (JF) #25 was collared 2 October 1980 and

monitored until radio contact was lost 11 November 1980. Home

range for this animal was 890 ha and mean nightly movement

was 3.8 km, ranging from 2.3-6.5 km. On 1 January 1981 JF

#25 was located in Hale County approximately 39.5 km southeast

of her monitored home range after being killed by an automobile

JF # 17 was trapped, instrumented, and released on 5

June 1980. The monitoring period ended 12 October 1980 when

radio contact was lost. Home range for this individual was

1,283 ha (Fig. 5). Mean nightly distance traveled was 3.0 km,

ranging from 0.2-6.7 km. Both basins and standing corn fields

were used frequently by this animal.

Both juvenile females had similar home range areas and

mean movement distances during their overlapping monitored

periods. JF #17 increased her home range size in September

and October, which may have represented greater movement

because of more limited availability of cover.

Juvenile Males

Juvenile male (JM) #15 was collared 4 June 1980 and

monitored until 20 June 1980 when radio contact was lost.

15

figure 4. Home range of AM raccoon #22, 15 August - 18 December 1980, in

Castro County, Texas, encompassing ! 854 ha.

]6

KILOMETER

PLAYA BASIN

Figure 5. Home range of JF raccoon #17, 5 June - 12 October 1980, in

Castro County, Texas, encompassing 1,285 ha,

17

For this short period JM #15 had a home range of 1,057 ha,

which suggested dispersal movement more than nightly foraging

activities within an established home range. Mean nightly

movement for this animal was 3.6 km, ranging from 0.7-6.6 km.

Locations for JM #15 were not concentrated around playa basins

as was found for other instrumented animals.

Marked tracks of this animal were sighted on 5 and 7

February 1981. Both track sightings were 11.4 km and 7.3 km

northeast of the monitored home range, respectively. This

suggested that the animal had enlarged its home range by

moving long distances to and from the original home range or

had established a new home range beyond the study area.

JM #20 was collared and released 21 July 1980 and

monitored until radio contact was lost 6 September 1980. Home

range for the period was 3,248 ha (Fig. 6 ) , larger than any

instrumented raccoon except AM #22. Mean nightly movement

was 5.2 km ranging from 1.4-10.9 km. JM #20 consistently

used pastures associated with draws and standing corn fields

even though playa basins existed within the home range area.

JM #20 was seldom found on playa basins in the area. In

Januarv he was found dead in a sheltered haystack 6.8 km west

of his monitored home range.

JM #23 was collared and released 7 September 1980. He

was monitored until 24 October 1980 and exhibited a home range

of 795 ha. Mean nightly movement was 1.8 km ranging from

0.5-5.1 km. In contrast to JM #20, this individual showed

a high association with playa basins.

After loss of radio contact, marked tracks were sighted

for JM #23 on 3 occassions: 17 October 1980, 2.3 km east of

the monitored home range; 9 and 10 December 1980, 3.5 km and

3.3 km also east of the monitored home range, respectively.

These tracks indicated that he was still close to his original

home range during October and December.

18

PLAYA BASIN]

Figure 6. Home range of JM raccoon #20, 21 July - 6 September 1980, in

Castro County, Texas, encompassing J248 ha.

19

SUMMARY

Area used by raccoons ranged from 795 ha to 3,845 ha, with AM's

having the largest home range areas and JF's the smallest. AF home

ranges were slightly larger than those recorded for JM's. Of all sex and

age classes, JM's showed the most contrast in home range size and area

used. In the case of JM #15, the short monitoring period and extent of

movement indicated dispersal. His marked tracks showed continued long

distance movements after loss of radio contact. JM #23 exhibited the

smallest home range for all monitored raccoons in contrast to JM #20,

which exhibited a large home range, but JM #20 was monitored longer than

#23 was. Lotze's (1979) review indicated that only 1 study (Fritzell

1978) recorded home ranges as large as those found in this study. When

compared to Fritzell (1978), home range sizes in this research were

larger for all sex and age classes except AM's.

Overlapping home ranges occurred for all collared individuals except

AM #18. It was not uncommon to monitor 2 or 3 different raccoons on the

same playa basin during 1 night. Raccoons in Michigan, observed by marked

tracks, also showed overlapping home ranges (Stuewer 1943).

Movement data for raccoons in this study showed there was a significant

difference (P<0.10) between males and females and between adults and

juveniles. Adults moved more than juveniles and males moved more than

females. There was no significant (P>0.10) interaction between sex and

age classes, indicating these characteristics acted independently of each

other.

No restriction of movement was evident among either sex or age

classes. Even AF #15 showed extensive movement away from the nest after

parturition and during postnatal care. Contrary to this study, Ellis

(1964), Schneider et al. (1971), and Fritzell (1978) reported shorter

movements of females after parturition and during postnatal care.

Rlange and movements for raccoons changed monthly during this study.

Research on raccoons in Louisiana and Minnesota also reflected this

characteristic (Mech and Turkowski 1966, Fleming 1975). Long-range

dispersal and extension of monthly home range areas were especially

noticeable from October through December. This period covers a season

in which there is little food, cover, or water available to raccoons.

20

Within the study area, crop harvesting was completed by October. This

left barren fields over a large portion of the county. Irrigation

decreased and surface water was restricted to 3 permanent playa basins,

tailwater pits, and cattle watering facilities which froze intermittently.

By December, cover was restricted to man-made structures, burrows, playa

basins, and some pastures. This depletion of the environment during the

winter months may have forced range extension and dispersal as raccoons

searched for food, cover or water. Monitored raccoons were feeding in

corn fields after harvest, but from December through February large

concentrations of marked and unmarked raccoon tracks were found on playa

basins that had permanent water. Scats of raccoons at this time showed

no corn contents.

Gels (1966) showed evidence of JM dispersal between August and

November but the maximum dispersal distance from release sites was only

3 km. Stuewer's (1943) data on raccoons in Michigan indicated some JM's

and JF's dispersed during summer months.

Datum in this study suggest home range and dispersal of resident

raccoons within the study area were disimilar to previous studies on

raccoon. What seems to be winter dispersal may actually be a constant

seasonal range extension that includes changing areas to find adequate

food, water, and cover. Since wititer is the most exigent season, range

extension becomes similar to dispersal movements in all sex and age groups.

When crops were planted and irrigation practices increased during spring

and summer the activity range for resident raccoons decreased in size.

CHAPTER V

DEN SITES

Den/rest sites used by raccoons have been studied by Giles (1942),

Stuewer (1943), Mech et al. (1966) and Berner and Gysel (1967). Sites

differ from region to region depending on location and availability.

Stuewer (1943) stated that raccoons in Michigan denned in various types

of tree dens including oaks (Quercus spp.), maples (Acer spp.), ash

(Fraxinus spp.), butternut (Juglans cinerea), and sycamores (Platanus

spp.). In contrast, Dorney (1954) found 90% of 81 raccoons on the Horicon

Marsh in Wisconsin used ground dens on islands or ditch-banks, 5% denned

in frozen muskrat houses, and 5% used tree dens.

RESULTS

Playa basins received varied use as den/rest sites by raccoons. All

sex and age classes occupied den/rest sites in playa basins and were

observed occupying new and re-using specific basins within their home range

areas. Movement between basins and re-use of the same den/rest sites were

frequent. In contrast, 2 collared raccoons showed no specific association

with 1 or 2 basins and seldom used the same rest site more than once during

the monitored period. Fleming (1975) and Schnell (1970), studying raccoons

in Louisiana and Minnesota, respectively, supported the fact raccoons

searched for certain den/rest sites and randomly chose sites as well.

Schnell (1970) suggested that selection was dependent upon the degree of

"foraging or investigatory behavior" of the raccoon.

Playa Basins

Den/rest sites on basins were located under or in tall, dense

vegetation such as cattails, bulrush, willow, smartweed, dock (Rumex spp.),

and Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense). In these areas, den/rest sites were

observed on soil, matted vegetation above ground, and matted vegetation

above water.

Of the 128 sites located on playa basins, average vegetation height

was 2.1 m, ranging from 1.6-2.7 m. Mean den/rest site temperature for

July and August was 27.7°C while mean air temperature was 31.5 C. For

21

22 o.

September and October mean aite temperature was 22.5 C and air temperature

averaged 28.1 C. During November and December the mean den/rest site and

air temperatures were 10.3 C and 17.3 C respectively.

Agriculture

In cropland areas raccoons were observed denning/resting only in

standing crops. The number of sites in cropland areas represented 19.1%

of all site locations (N=189) with 31 locations in corn, 2 in wheat, 2 in

sorghum, and 1 in a sunflower field.

AM's were telemetrically located in cropland areas but den/rest sites

were not observed in agriculture for this sex/age category. Collared

individuals from all other categories used cropland areas and denned/rested

under tall stalks upon moist irrigated soil or matted vegetation above

wet soil. Mean crop height was 2.0 m, ranging from 1.7-2.3 m. Mean site

temperature for all cropland areas was 28.8 C while mean air temperature

was 30.0°C.

No sites were observed in cotton fields; therefore it was assumed

that cotton fields did not suit the den/rest site requirements of raccoons.

Also, no sites were recorded in cropland areas after standing crops were

harvested in October, although many stubble fields remained through

December. Presumably this habitat no longer afforded enough cover.

Pastures

All sex and age classes except AF's were observed denning/resting

in pastures. Two sites were located in Johnsongrass/cocklebur (Xanthium

strumarium) patches and 4 were located in ground burrows. These 6 den/

rest sites represented 3.2% of the total sites located for all raccoons.

Mean site and air temperature for both Johnsongrass/cocklebur sites was

25.8°C and 29.4°C, respectively. Mean site temperature for burrows was

24.1°C while mean air temperauture was 36.9 C.

Vegetation surrounding sites in the Johnsongrass/cocklebur areas

averaged 1.5 m in height. However, burrows were surrounded with sparse

cover or short grasses and bare ground.

23

Man-made Structures

Structures such as barns:, abandoned houses and sheds, irrigations

wells, haystacks, wood piles, and silage pits, represented 10% of all

monitored den/rest sites. However, accounts by local farmers and residents

indicate higher use of structures by raccoons. Stuewer (1943) and Mech

and Turkowski (1966) reported use or artificial structures as den sites

by raccoons during winter.

SUMMARY

Raccoons used playa basins most often as daytime den/rest sites in

areas with dense, tall vegetation. These basins seemed to provide secure

cover as well as supplies of food and water. In playa basins and croplands

vegetation height and site temperature may be important factors in den/

rest site selection. Other than ground burrows and man-made structures,

all sites were located in vegetation no less than 1.0 m high, which

indicates importance of tall cover.

In agricultural areas, corn and wheat were irrigated during May-

August. This irrigation provided water and cool resting/denning sites

for raccoons. Although raccoons were not recorded denning/resting in any

agricultural crop other than corn or wheat, other irrigated fields were

available.

All temperature readings were cooler at the actual den/rest sites

than air temperatures 2 m above the sites. Readings were not taken after

December, but temperature readings would probably be warmer at the actual

site during cold winter weather. This difference is important and could

govern thermoregulation and behavior of individual animals in site

selection at specific times of the year.

Lack of sites in pastures may be attributed to low sparse vegetation

because of grazing pressure and seasonal flooding of draws bordering

pastures. However, ground burrows used as den/rest sites may provide

protection and comfortable denning/resting temperatures. Use of ground

burrows also may increase with the decrease of vegetational cover and the

onset of severe weather in winter.

Use of man-made structures as den/rest sites was not common except

for breeding females. This specific use may be characteristic of pregnant

24

females that use these structures for better protection of their young.

No use of man-made structures was evident after the young were old enough

to leave the nest site CTahle 1).

25

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CHAPTER VI

HARITAT RELATIONSHIPS

Raccoons can adapt to many habitats. Studies have shown raccoons

exclusively using mixed hardwood forests and bottomland habitats (Stuewer

1943, Mech et al. 1966). Recently, habitat use by raccoons has been

investigated in coastal marsh areas CFleming 1975) and prairie pothole

regions (Fritzell 1978). These studies indicate their adaptability to

varied habitats for denning, feeding, and resting by extending home range

areas and by employing certain behavioral characteristics. In this study,

determining the importance of playa basins to raccoons was a primary

objective.

The expected number of raccoon observations differed significantly

(P<0.10) from the availability of all habitats within raccoon home ranges.

Playa basins were the only habitat used significantly more than in !

proportion to their availability (Table 2), including ephemeral and

permanently watered basins. Basins comprised 4% of home range areas

whereas 48% of all telemetric locations occurred in playa basins.

Corn, wheat, and cotton were the major crops and were used less than

in proportion to their availability. However, milo, sunflower, alfalfa,

oats, and fallow fields were minor crops and were used proportionately.

Croplands comprised 84% of raccoon home ranges and 41% of all

observations occurred in these habitats. Movements through most agricultural

areas were generally direct and rapid, indicating use as travel lanes.

However, taller crops such as corn were used for feeding and denning/resting

sites with 33% of all locations occurring in corn fields.

Pastures were used in proportion to their availability with 11% of

all observations occurring in these habitats. Telemetric observations of

movements showed direct and rapid travel across pastures, but these areas

were sometimes used as feeding and denning/resting sites.

Availability could not be measured for artificial structures so

preference of these habitats was not determined. Only 18 locations were

observed in man-made structures. Raccoon use of these structures was

never observed during night monitoring. However, tracks and scat data

suggested greater use of artificial structures than telemetry indicated.

26

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28

Personal communications with, landowners on us£ of open-well irrigation

pipes by raccoons supported this.

SUMMARY

Playa basins were the only habitat preferred by raccoons during the

study. These habitats had dense vegetation, available water, food, cover;

playas were used for den/rest sites and travel lanes. These characteristics

provided habitat that was used by raccoons as often as pasture and cropland

habitats combined.

The importance of basins may become most critical during the winter

months when water and food become scarce. Stuewer (1943), Dorney (1954),

and Fleming (1975) have all related the importance of water to raccoons

but nothing has been reported on its significance during the winter months

in the High Plains of Texas. Stuewer (1943) suggested that water was not

important to raccoons in Michigan when denning occurred during harsh winter

months. By contrast, water seemed important to raccoons in this study.

Irrigation ceased and precipitation rates decreased during fall, causing

ephemeral basins to dry. Except for occasional precipitation and winter

wheat pre-plant irrigation, dry conditions persisted through winter

resulting in decreased aquatic resources. Therefore, a limited number

of modified playas and tailwater pits within the study area, provided

water throughout winter. Evidence for continued use of permanent basins

only, was determined from the large numbers of marked and unmarked tracks

on these basins, especially during the December-February period. Tracks

were not observed on tailwater pits in January and February.

Several foods used by raccoons were closely linked to playa basins,

although many items were temporal in availability. Fleming (1975) stated

that the annual diet of coastal-marsh raccoons in Louisiana varied with

precipitation, tide levels, and water salinity, and suggested a close link

between food availability and water. In Castro County, food availability

was limited during winter compared to other seasons. Increased use of

permanent basins during winter also may have occurred because of their

available food sources as opposed to pastures or croplands.

Other than possible sources for food and water, vegetation on basins

was dense and rank in fall and winter months providing cover, and possible

29

den/rest sites.

In croplands, grain was consumed by raccoons and fields were used as

travel lanes. Several researchers have found grain in varying amounts in

raccoon diets (Whitney 1952, Johnson 1970, Fleming 1975). Giles (1930)

stated that raccoon diets in Iowa contained 68.5% corn from March through

December, whereas raccoon diets in New York contained 19.2% grain by

frequency and 14.7% by volume (Hamilton 1951). Examination of fresh scats

in the study area showed raccoons consumed large amounts of corn between

July and December but none in January and February.

Locations were monitored for raccoons in pastures only from May through

October. Raccoon use of pastures was limited to travel lanes, den/rest

sites, and possibly some feeding. More importantly, pastures provided

abundant food sources during the warm season. Foods such as insects, bird

eggs, and crustaceans were readily available to raccoons. These have

previously been reported in raccoon diets (Hamilton 1951, Fleming 1975).

In the spring and summer of 1980, a grasshopper infestation of pastures

occurred in the study area. Examination of fresh scats showed grasshoppers

comprised part of raccoon diets during the summer months, but quantitative

data were not available to evaluate their importance in the diet.

Recorded use of man-made structures by raccoons was minimal compared

to other habitats, but these structures may have provided an important

function as winter den/rest, breeding, and nest sites. In this study

several landowners corroborated that wells, barns, haystacks and silage

pits were used by raccoons, especially during the winter season. As

mentioned, vegetational cover is greatly reduced in winter and man-made

structures could easily serve as winter cover. Also, landowner information

on use of open wells by female raccoons with kits indicated that these

afforded greater protection against predators and inclement weather than

natural nesting sites.

CHAPTER VII

TRANSPLANT RACCOON

Trapping and transplanting of raccoons have been conducted by various

state game departments. Removal of raccoons from waterfowl nesting areas,

distribution of raccoons to refuges for sport hunting, or restocking of

raccoons in certain areas are a few reasons why trapping and transplanting

have taken place. However, the behavior of transplanted raccoons has

rarely been reported.

In this study, a JF raccoon was obtained from Clarendon in Donley

County, Texas, 125 km northeast of the Castro study area. Clarendon's

principal industry is ranching, but cultivated fields of wheat and rye

(Secale cereale) do occur (Koerth 1981). Playa basins are not present in

the Clarendon area but year round water is available in spring fed-creeks

and stock tanks.

In May the animal was transported to the Castro study area and kept

in a holding pen for 3 days preceeding release. After release methodology

followed procedures applied to radio-collared native raccoons.

RESULTS

The transplant JF was monitored from 11 May 1980 through 28 June 1980.

The animal was released in an abandoned barn in Running Water Draw to

allow the individual immediate security and cover. Playa basins were

located within 3-5 km from this release site.

The transplanted JF had a monitored home range of 288 ha, which was

smaller than any of the resident raccoon home range areas (Fig. 7). Mean

movement was 2.2 km, ranging from 1.0-5.0 km. This was less than average

movements recorded for native collared raccoons.

Sixteen den/rest sites were located for the transplanted raccoon.

Of these, 75% were located in standing wheat fields, 12.5% in abandoned

burrows, and 12.5% in haystacks. During her monitored period, this animal

denned/rested regularly in the same wheat field until it was harvested.

After harvest 2 sites were recorded in a haystack and 2 more in burrows.

The haystack and burrows were located on pastures in Running Water Draw

close to the wheat field she had previously used. From her release in

30

31

LOMETER

PLAYA BASIN

Figure 7. Home range of transplant raccoon, 11 May - 28 June 1980, in

Castro County, Texas, encompassing 288 ha.

32

April until radio failure in June-, the transplanted raccoon used pastures,

wheat, and cotton fields. Using a Chl-square test of homogeneity, the

expected number of raccoon locations differed significantly (P<0.10) from

the occurrence of habitat within the animal's home range. Preferences for

habitat were calculated as for resident raccoons (Table 3). Pastures and

wheat fields were used in proportion to their availability. Cotton fields

were used less than their availability, the same as for resident raccoons.

SUMMARY

During the monitored period the JF did not visit a playa basin. Most

of her time was spent in standing wheat fields and pastures bordering

Running Water Draw. The small home range recorded for the monitored

period after release, along with relatively restricted movements may

indicate a period of adjustment to the release site. In June 1980, wheat

fields were harvested, removing"; a large portion of cover she had been

using within the monitored home range. Radio contact was lost 1 week

after the wheat fields were harvested.

Although both food and water were available to this animal, the food

base in the study area may have been very different than the JF's endemic

area. In Clarendon, fruits such as wild plum, grapes, and berries were

present during summer, whereas, the study area had no wild furits or

berries. Possible food items that were similar to Clarendon were amphibians,

insects, reptiles, eggs, crustaceans, and invertebrates (B. H. Koerth,

pers. commun.).

The JF spent much of her time in surroundings similar to those found

in Clarendon. Observed den/rest sites in the sides of old silage pits

and wheat fields may reflect denning habits along the river breaks country

and wheat fields in Clarendon.

The cotton fields in which telemetric locations occurred were located

between a wheat field and a tailwater pit next to a wheat field. The 2

recorded locations occurred when the raccoon was traveling to or from the

pit. Avoidance of cotton fields was probably because of the lack of cover

and unfamiliarity with this type (Clarendon area has no cotton).

No further information was obtained on this animal after June until

14 January 1981 when her marked tracks were located on a playa basin

33

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34

40.3 km northwest of her monitored home range area. Ellis C1964) reported

the movements of an adult male transplanted from Georgia to tlllnois.

Eight months after releas-e the raccoon was found 19.3 km away. Dispersal

of the JF raccoon in this study showed similar behavior. It is difficult

to draw conclusions from a single observation: hovever, it is possible

that when the wheat harvest removed the security cover in the JF's newly

established home range the animal began moving in search of a more

suitable and familiar environment.

LITERATURE CITED

Baker, R. H. , c. C. Newman, and F. Wilke. 1945. Food habits of the

raccoon in eastern Texas. J. Wlldl. Manage. 9Q):45-48.

Berner, A., and L. W. Gysel. 1967. Raccoon use of large tree cavities

and ground burrows. J. Wlldl. Manage. 31(4):706-714.

Bigler, W. J., and G. L. Hoff. 1974. Anesthesia of raccoons with

ketamine hydrochloride. J. Wlldl. Manage. 38(4): 364-366.

Bruns, H. E. 1974. Soil snrvey of Castro County, Texas. Soil Cons.

Serv. 41pp.

Burt, W. H., and R. P. Grossenheider. 1976. A field guide to the

mammals. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston. 289pp.

Butterfield, R. T. 1944. Populations, hunting pressure, and movement

of Ohio raccoons. Trans. N. Am. Wlldl. Conf. 9:334-337.

Chandler, A. C. 1942. The helminths of raccoons in east Texas. J.

Parasit. 28:255-268.

Cook, R. S., D. 0. Trainer, W. C. Glazener, and B. D. Nassif. 1965.

A serological study of infectious diseases of wild populations in

south Texas. Trans. N. Am. Wlldl. Conf. 30:142-155.

Davis, W. B. 1974. The mammals of Texas. Texas Parks and Wildl. Dept.

Bull. 41. 294pp.

Dorney, R. S. 1954. Ecology of marsh raccoons J. Wildl. Manage. 18(2):

217-225.

Ellis, R. J. 1964. Tracking raccoons by radio. J. Wildl. Manage.

28(2):363-368.

Fleming, D. M. 1975. Movement patterns of the coastal marsh raccoon

in Louisiana and notes on its life history. M. A. Thesis,

Louisiana State Univ. 90pp.

Fritzell, E. K. 1978. Habitat use by prairie raccoon during the

waterfowl breeding season. J. Wildl. Manage. 42(1):118-127.

Frye, J. C , and L. A. Byron. 1957. Studies of cenozoic geology along

eastern margin of Texas High Plains, Armstrong to Howard counties

Univ. Texas Bur. Econ. Geology, Rep. 32. 60pp.

Gels, G. L. 1966. Mobility and behavior of raccoons in eastern South

Dakota. M. S. Thesis, South Dakota State Univ., Brookinas, S. D. 40pp

35

36

Giles, L. W. 1940. Food habits of the raccoon in eastern Iowa. J. Wildl.

Manage. 4(4):375-382.

. 1942. Utilization of rock exposures for dens and escape by

raccoons. Am. Midi. Nat. 27(1):171-176.

Grau, G. A. 1968. Age determination in the raccoon (Procyon lotor).

M. A. Thesis, Univ. Missouri. 78pp.

Hamilton, Jr., W. J. 1951. Warm weather foods of the raccoon in New

York state. J. Mammal. 32(3):341-344.

Harvey, M. J. and R. W. Barbour. 1965. Home range of Microtus ochragaster

as determined by a modified minimum area method. J. Mammal. 46(3):

398-402.

Johnson, A. S. 1970. Biology of the raccoon (Procyon lotor varius Nelson

and Goldman) in Alabama Agri. Exp. Stat. Bull. 402, Auburn Univ.

148pp.

Koerth, B. H. Jr. 1981. Habitat use, herd ecology, and seasonal

movements of mule deer in the Texas panhandle. M. A. Thesis. Texas

Tech Univ. 103pp.

Lotze, J. H. 1979. The raccoon (Procyon lotor) on St. Catherines Islands,

Georgia. 4 comparisons of home ranges determined by live-trapping

and radio-tracking. Am. Mus. Novit. No. 2664. 25pp.

Marcum, L. C. and D. 0. Lof tsgaarden. 1980. A nonmapping technique for

studying habitat preferences. J. Wildl. Manage. 44(4):963-968.

Mech, D. L., J. R. Tester, and D. W. Warner. 1966. Fall daytime resting

habits of raccoons as determined by telemetry. J. Mammal. 47(3):

450-466. and F. J. Turkowski. 1966. Twenty-three raccoons in one

winter den. J. Mammal. 47:529-530

Moore, R. L. 1980. Aspects of the ecology and hunting economics of

migratory waterfowl on the Texas High Plains. M. S. Thesis, Texas

Tech Univ. 80pp. Sanderson, G. C. 1950. Methods of measuring productivity in raccoons.

J. Wildl. Manage. 14(4):389-402.

1961. The lens as an indicator of age in the raccoon.

Amer. Midi. Nat. 65(2):481-485.

37

Schneider, D. G., L. D. Mech., and J. R, Tester. 1971, Movements of

female raccoons and their young as determined by radio tracking,

Anim. Behav. Monogr. 4(1):1-43.

Schnell, J. H. 1970. Rest site selection by radio-tagged raccoons. J.

Minn. Acad. Sci. 36:83-88.

Siniff, D. B., and J. R. Tester. 1965. Computer analysis of animal

movement data obtained by telemetry. Biosci. 15(2):104-108.

Steel, R. G. D., and J. H. Torie. 1978. Principles and proceedures of

statistics a biometrical approach. 2nd edit. McGraw-Hill. New York,

N. Y. 636pp.

Stuewer, F. W. 1943. Raccoons; their habits and management in Michigan.

Ecol. Monogr. 13(2):203-257.

Urban, D. 1970. Raccoon populations, movement patterns, and predation

on a managed waterfowl marsh. J. Wildl. Manage. 34(2):372-383.

Whitney, L. F. , and A. B. Underwood. 1952. The raccoon. Practical Sci.

Publ. Co., Orange Conn. 177pp.

Wood, J. E. 1954. Food habits of furbearers of the Upland Post Oak Region

in Texas. J. Mammal. 35(3):406-415.

1955. Notes on reproduction and rate of increase of raccoons

in the Post Oak Region of Texas. J. Wildl. Manage. 19(3) :409-410.

APPENDIX

A. Weight and drug measurements on live trapped raccoons in Castro

County, Texas.

38

APPENDIX A: WEIGHT AND DRUG MEASITREMENTS. ON LIVE TRAPPED RACCOONS IN

CASTRO COUNTY, TEXAS.

39

Number

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Sex

F

M

M

M

M

F

F

F

F

M

M

F

F

F

M

M

F

M

M

M

F

M

M

F

F

F

F

M

Age Months

15-38

15-38

15-38

0-14

0-14

0-14

0-14

15-38

39-57

0-14

15-38

15-38

0-14

15-38

0-14

15-38

0-14

39-57

15-38

0-14

15-38

15-38

0-14

0-14

39-57

0-14

0-14

0-14

Weight

(kg)

7.70

6.12

4.30

1.59

1.81

2.27

3.17

5.89

8.83

1.81

9.51

8.27

4.53

6.80

6.34

7.70

6.34

9.06

9.06

6.34

8.15

9.51

5.44

4.98

9.06

6.80

6.34

7.25

Dosage (cc)

1.6

1.4

1.0

0.4

0.4

0.5

0.7

1.3

2.0

0.4

2.1

1.8

1.0

1.4

1.4

2.0

2.0

1.4

1.8

2.1

1.2

1.1

2.0

1.5

1.4

1.6

Drug Time (min.)

02:00

01:30

01:30

01:45

02:00

03:00

01:15

02:45

02:00

02:30

02:40

01:30

01:25

01:35

02:10

01:40

01:00

01:30

01:10

01:30

APPENDIX A:—CONTINUED

40

Number

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

Sex

M

F

F

M

M

F

M

F

F

M

M

F

M

M

F

M

Age Months

15-38

0-14

58-86

39-57

15-38

0-14

0-14

15-38

0-14

39-57

15-38

86 or older

0-14

0-14

0-14

0-14

Weight (kg)

9.51

5.44

8.61

11.10

8.15

6.34

9.51

6.34

6.80

9.06

8.61

11.78

5.89

6.80

4.53

7.25

Dosage (cc)

2.1

1.2

1.9

2.5

1.8

1.4

2.1

1.4

1.5

2.0

1.9

2.6

1.3

1.5

1.0

1.6

Drug Time (min.)

06:00

01:15

00:45

01:40

03:20

02:30

03:00

02:40

02:30

03:00

01:40

02:40

03:15

03:15

home range, movements, and denning sites of raccoons

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