Early autumn diet of introduced raccoon dogs on Okushiri Island, Hokkaido, Japan.

Abstract

The diet of introduced raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides albus) was examined by fecal analysis in early autumn on Okushiri Island, Hokkaido. A total of 39 feces were collected from 37 latrines in September 2021 and analyzed using the point frame method. The most common foods of raccoon dogs were insects (frequency 100%; mean occupancy 47.1%) and fruits (frequency 87.2%; mean occupancy 30.8%). The insects were mainly Coleoptera (frequency 100%; mean occupancy 35.2%), of which the occupancy was higher in this study than previously reported from other regions. High predation pressure of the alien raccoon dog might have a negative impact on insect communities.