Ecology of the raccoon (Procyon lotor) from western Poland

Preliminary results on the ecology of raccoon in Poland are presented. The use of space (by radiotelemetry), diet composition and parasite infections (both by scat analysis) were investigated. The home-range size of the raccoon in western Poland averaged 1 km(2) in suburban areas (n = 5 individuals), 10 km(2) in the Warta Mouth National Park wetland area (n = 5), and 60 km(2) for a single individual studied inhabiting woodlands. Space use patterns in relation to habitat type were also studied. About 44% of the biomass consumed by raccoons were mammals, 41% other vertebrates, 12% invertebrates, 2% plant material and only 1% eggs. Three species and one genus of helminths, e.g. the humans pathogen parasite, Baylisascaris procyonis, were identified.