Home range and movement-inhibiting factors of masked palm civet (Paguma larvata) in urban areas: A case study in urban areas of Morioka city, Iwate prefecture

Abstract

We conducted a tracking survey of five masked palm civets (Paguma larvata) using GPS collars in two urban areas of Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. In this study, we elucidated the ecology of the civet in urban areas, focusing on the home range and movement-inhibiting factors. The civets were mostly nocturnal and rested in their dens during the daytime. The home range size of civets ranged from 63.6 to 298.4 ha (100% MCP), which was similar to that of previous studies conducted in rural areas. The home range of each individual overlapped widely. Roads, rivers, and railroad lines functioned as barriers to the movement of civets; however, roads only acted as barriers if they were wide, had a high-speed limit, and had well-lit surfaces. Monte Carlo simulations focusing on the use district of urban planning where GPS data were recorded showed that the civets avoided commercial districts. Although the reason behind civets avoiding commercial districts is unclear, the results suggest that the use district zoning may be used as an indicator of the environmental differences that affect civets’ behavior.