Short description of Nyctereutes procyonoides, Raccoon Dog

The raccoon dog is a fox-sized mammal with short legs and tail and mainly blackish-grey fur.  There are raccoon-like black markings across the face but this species lacks the raccoon's long banded tail.

Impact summary: Nyctereutes procyonoides, Raccoon Dog

The raccoon dog is a predator on birds and amphibians and may affect the nesting success or population sizes of their prey. It is one of the most important vectors of rabies in Europe and can also carry sarcoptic mange and the fox tapeworm.

Habitat summary: Nyctereutes procyonoides, Raccoon Dog

Raccoon dogs occupy mainly damp forest habitats with abundant undergrowth and are typically found near water.

Overview table

Environment	Terrestrial
Species status	Non-Native
Native range	Russian Far East, China, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Vietnam
Functional type	Omnivore
Status in England	Non-Native
Status in Scotland	Non-Native
Status in Wales	Non-Native
Location of first record	?
Date of first record	Unknown

Origin

The species is native to much of China, Mongolia, parts of eastern Siberia, Japan, Korea and northern southeast Asia.

First Record

There was a report of a raccoon dog killed near Loch Lomond in the 1990s but the first confirmed sighting was in Berkshire in July 2005.

Pathway and Method

The species was introduced deliberately to Ukraine, Belarus, Latvia and European Russia between 1929 and 1955, and also escaped from fur farms in eastern Europe. Since then, the range of this species has expanded westwards.

Species Status

Raccoon dogs have spread from their introduced range, in eastern Europe, westwards to include northern Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Bulgaria by 1999. The species is regarded as one of the most invasive non-native animals in Europe.

Dispersal Mechanisms

Most young animals disperse on reaching the age of 4–5 months, mostly during August–October. The average dispersal distance is less than 20 km but some animals travel further than 160 km.

Reproduction

The mating season begins mainly in March and cubs are born during April–June, after 9 weeks' gestation. The average litter size in Europe is between 7 and 9. Raccoon dogs are capable of breeding in their first year and the proportion of breeding females in the population is around 80%.

Known Predators/Herbivores

Raccoon dogs, mainly young animals, are preyed upon by wolves, red foxes, dogs, lynx and large predatory birds.

Resistant Stages

None known.

Habitat Occupied in GB

Not yet present in GB.

There was a record of this species in Berkshire in 2005.

Environmental Impact

Raccoon dogs are omnivorous and seem to have found a vacant niche in western Europe. They may compete for food and dens with native animals such as red fox and badger and their predation on birds and amphibians may at times affect prey populations. They are carriers of diseases such as sarcoptic mange and tapeworms that can affect native mammals.

Health and Social Impact

Raccoon dog is one of the main vectors of rabies in Europe.  In conjunction with red foxes, they can raise the density of susceptible animals to the point where a rabies epizootic could break out.

Economic Impact

There are economic costs associated with raccoon dogs as a carrier of rabies, for example in treating them with oral rabies vaccinations.

Identification

Macdonald, D. & Barrett, P. (1993) Mammals of Britain & Europe.  HarperCollins, London.

Wilson, D.E. & Mittelmeier, R.A. (eds) (2009) Handbook of the Mammals of the World.  Volume 1: Carnivores. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

Biology, ecology, spread, vectors

Ansorge, H., Ranyuk, M., Kauhala, K., Kowalczyk, R. & Stier, N. (2009) Raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides populations in the area of origin and in colonised regions – the epigenetic variability of an immigrant. Annales Zoologici Fennici, 46, 51–62.

Kauhala, K. & Auniola, M. (2001) Diet of raccoon dogs in summer in the Finnish archipelago. Ecography, 24, 151–156.

Kauhala, K., Holmala, K. & Schregel, J. (2007) Seasonal activity patterns and movements of the raccoon dog, a vector of diseases and parasites, in southern Finland. Mammalian Biology, 72, 342–353.

Mitchell-Jones, A.J., Amori, G., Bogdanowicz, W., Kryštufek, B., Reijnders, P.J.H., Spitzenberger, F., Stubbe, M., Thissen, J.B.M., Vohralík, V. & Zima, J. (1999) The Atlas of European Mammals. T. & A.D. Poyser, London.

Management and impact

Singer, A., Kauhala, K., Holmala, K. & Smith, G.C. (2009) Rabies in North Eastern Europe – the threat from invasive raccoon dogs. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 45, 1121–1137.

General

DAISIE factsheet