Observation of ground latrine of invasive raccoon.

Abstract

Latrines of some mammals function as intraspecific communication sites and provide a determinant of animals’ sociobiological behavior. They also provide a source of olfactory signals indicating the presence of other species including predators and competitors. The Northern raccoon (Procyon lotor) uses latrines, where they typically defecate on woody structures within their native range. In Japan, however, very little is known about latrine use by non-native raccoons, except that they establish latrines in garrets of human buildings. Here, a raccoon latrine found directly on the ground surface was observed through camera trapping. Raccoons frequently visited the latrine in January, presumably due to mating behavior. To the author’s best knowledge, this is the first report on open-air latrine use by invasive raccoons in Japan. Native mesocarnivores were observed sniffing the latrine probably to investigate this stranger.