Home Range of the Raccoon (Procyon lotor), and the Degree of Interaction with Domestic Pets at Aquarena Center, San Marcos, Hays County, Texas
As raccoon (Procyon lotor) population densities increase in suburban and urban areas, the concern about an epizootic of rabies or the transmission of other diseases such as distemper, parvo and nematode parasites such Toxacara spp., and the raccoon ascarid, Baylisascaris procyonis that can infect pets are increased. The purpose of my study was to determine the home range of a sample of raccoons from Aquarena Center, San Marcos, Hays County, Texas, and to determine the degree of interaction between the raccoons and domestic pets. Home range was determined by radio-collaring a sample of seven raccoons and analyzing universal trans-mercator (UTM) coordinates using convex polygon method and plotting them on a DOQQ of North San Marcos with Arc View GIS v3.l. The degree of interaction was determined by personal observation, motion detecting camera and questionnaire survey of area residents. By using the home range and degree of interaction, the potential of a disease transmission was determined. Results indicated that the raccoons at Aquarena Center have high site fidelity, and a small home range. Interaction between raccoons and domestic pets was minimal, and under healthy population conditions, the potential for an epizootic was low.
raccoons, Procyon lotor, domestic animals, Aquarena Center
Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations