Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons^™

Invasive Wild Pig (Sus Scrofa) Diets On Barrier Islands In The Southeastern United States, Vienna R. Canright, Antoinette J. Piaggio, James C. Beasley

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Background

Biological invasions are a leading cause of reductions in global biodiversity. Islands are particularly sensitive to invasions, which often result in cascading impacts throughout island communities. Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are globally invasive and pose threats to numerous taxa and ecosystems, particularly for islands where they have contributed to declines of many endemic species. However, the impacts of wild pig diet on the flora and fauna remain understudied in many island systems.

Results

We used DNA metabarcoding of wild pig fecal samples to quantify the seasonal diet composition of wild pigs on three barrier islands in the …

Characterizing Feral Swine Movement Across The Contiguous United States Using Neural Networks And Genetic Data, Rachael M. Giglio, Courtney F. Bowden, Ryan K. Brook, Antoinette J. Piaggio, Timothy J. Smyser

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Globalization has led to the frequent movement of species out of their native habitat. Some of these species become highly invasive and capable of profoundly altering invaded ecosystems. Feral swine (Sus scrofa × domesticus) are recognized as being among the most destructive invasive species, with populations established on all continents except Antarctica. Within the United States (US), feral swine are responsible for extensive crop damage, the destruction of native ecosystems, and the spread of disease. Purposeful human-mediated movement of feral swine has contributed to their rapid range expansion over the past 30 years. Patterns of deliberate introduction of …

Discovery Of A Novel Invasive Rodent Species On Wake Atoll With A Desert Southwest Usa Origin, Antoinette J. Piaggio, Eric Lanners, Daniel R. Taylor, Aaron B. Shiels, Marjorie Matocq, John Eisemann

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Invasive species, particularly omnivorous rodents, have damaged island ecosystems around the world. The unique flora and fauna of island systems have typically not evolved with omnivorous rodents and are heavily impacted by their introduction. Wake Atoll of the southern Pacific Ocean is a 707-hectare coral island complex of three islands managed by the United States Department of Defense (DoD). DoD restricts civilian access to the atoll but aircraft and seacraft regularly visit the island to transport military equipment and to sustain the year-round military and contractor personnel stationed on the atoll. Wake Atoll had been invaded by Rattus rattus complex …

Melittological Notes From Guatemala (Hymenoptera: Anthophila), 1. New Country Records For Centris Fabricius (Apidae) And Zikanapis Moure (Colletidae), Silas Bossert, José Monzón-Sierra, Richard S. Zack, Ana Cristina García, Elizabeth A. Murray

Insecta Mundi

Abstract

Three species of bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Colletidae) are newly recorded for Guatemala: Centris obscurior Michener, Centris vidua Mocsáry, and Zikanapis inbio (Michener, Engel and Ayala). We discuss aspects of their biology and circumstances of the collecting events and provide information on their presently known distribution.

Resumen

Se registran por primera vez tres especies de abejas (HymenopteraN: Apidae, Colletidae) para Guatemala: Centris obscurior Michener, Centris vidua Mocsáry, y Zikanapis inbio (Michener, Engel y Ayala). Discutimos aspectos de su biología, circunstancias bajo las cuáles fueron colectadas y se provee información en la distribución conocida actualmente.

A Revision Of Dyscolotaxia Horn, 1890 (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae: Macraulacinae: Macraulacini), With The Description Of Amazotaxia New Genus From South America, Robert L. Otto

Insecta Mundi

Abstract

The Neotropical eucnemid genus, Dyscolotaxia Horn, is revised following the examination of specimens from five collections, examination of the published original description of Plesiofornax tetratoma Chassain, and from images provided by Fernanda Salazar-Buenaño (QCAZI). Dyscolotaxia championi Horn is redescribed with included descriptions of the male genitalia and a female specimen. Three new species of false click beetles (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae) are described from the Neotropical region. These new species are: Dyscolotaxia chiriquiensis (Panama), Dyscolotaxia hispaniolensis (Dominican Republic), and Dyscolotaxia picea (Ecuador). Amazotaxia new genus is described from South America for Plesiofornax tetratoma Chassain, creating Amazotaxia tetratoma (Chassain) new combination. Morphology …

Genomic Analysis Reveals New Species And Subspecies Of Butterflies, Jing Zhang, Qian Cong, Jinhui Shen, Leina Song, Nick V. Grishin

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Large-scale genomic sequencing of butterfly taxa reveals new findings that are presented here. While we focus on detecting species by comparative genomics and define subspecies as groups of populations genetically differentiated from each other but not as strongly as species (that is, subspecies as species in the making), we report other adjustments to butterfly classification. As a result, 4 subgenera, 11 species, and 6 subspecies are proposed as new. New subgenera are: Rapis Grishin, subgen. n. (type species Papilio rapae Linnaeus, 1758, genus Pieris Schrank, 1801) in Pieridae Swainson, 1820 and Callitera Grishin, subgen. n. (type species Eurygona? pulcherrima …

Reassessment Of Amblyscirtes Hegon (Hesperiidae) As A Complex Of Four Distinct Species Revealed By Genomic Analysis, Harry Pavulaan, Ricky Patterson, Nick V. Grishin

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

After the discovery of a unique phenotype in the southern United States with a different ventral ground color than nominotypical Amblyscirtes hegon (Scudder, 1863), which occurs in the northeastern United States, genomic analysis revealed that A. hegon is a species complex. Phenotypic, genitalic, and genomic differences of the complex are presented here. Four species are identified: A. hegon; A. nemoris (W. H. Edwards, 1864), stat. rest.; A. matheri Patterson, Pavulaan & Grishin, sp. n. (TL: USA, Mississippi, Warren County); and A. gelidus Grishin, Patterson & Pavulaan, sp. n. (TL: USA, Michigan, Van Buren County).

Fall Field Report, August–November 2023, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

As in the last few fall seasons, late departure dates continue to increase in number. This is often attributed to a warming climate but may also result from increased observer activity and usage of eBird. Late dates are probably the most important aspect of this report, most prominent the record late fall dates for Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Sanderling, Bank Swallow, and Cassin’s Sparrow. Although these species are taxonomically diverse, there were species group concentrations of late dates, notably among shorebirds. Examples were Marbled Godwit for which the four latest reports this fall were four of the latest six fall dates on …

Index To Volume 91

Nebraska Bird Review

Adams: Pam 11; Paul 11
Aden, Debbie 55
Allard, Savannah 29
Allen, Edward 10
Allison, Betty 30
Alpheus, A. 154
Altman, Dakota 21, 30
Andersen: Bennett 30; Brett 30, 52, 142; D. E. 83
Anderson: Bob 139, 147; Chris 7; Janet 29; Will 68
Angkaew, Rongron 6
Ani, Groove-billed 127, 131
Anich: Charlie 99; Nick 99; Paula 99
Arends, Jim 30
Armstrong, Wyatt 121
Askerooth, Kristine 29
Atkins, Kate 16
Atwell, Erik 55, 58, 99, 100, 102, 112
Audubon, M. 82
Augustine, Jackie 63
Austin, Mary 7
Avocet, American 19, 53, 86, 100, 132, 158

. . .

Zach, Joel …

Yellow-Throated Warbler In Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, Mark A. Brogie, Bill F. Huser, Jerry Probst

Nebraska Bird Review

Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica) is a rare to uncommon migrant in eastern and central Nebraska. It is possibly a regular breeder locally at sites containing sycamores in several southeastern Nebraska counties bordering the Missouri River. There are few Nebraska reports after July, with more reports November–January than August–October. This species has three previous documented Nebraska Panhandle records, all from May.

1. One photographed 26 May 2009, at Crescent Lake NWR, Garden Co.

2. One seen and “well described” 06 May 1931, at Antioch, Sheridan Co.

3. A specimen taken 20 May 1917, at Oshkosh, Garden Co., was once …

Can The Vegetation Structure And Composition In Urban Green Spaces Determine Diversity Of Green Lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)?, Jose I. Martinez, Raiza J. Castillo, Adrián Ardila-Camacho, Charles V. Covell, José Isabel López-Arroyo, Francisco Javier Nava-Guízar

Insecta Mundi

Green spaces represent the only natural areas in several cities around the world, providing good shelters for the local fauna. Based on this premise, many ecological studies have been conducted focused on these areas. Most of these works are about insects, particularly butterflies and beetles. Our study is centered on a different group: green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). These insects exhibit a similar feeding behavior to some other groups, such as beetles. We estimated diversity, richness, distribution, abundance and similarity employing two methods: sweep netting and suction trapping. Also, oviposition hosts were identified in 20 different green spaces. Approximately 740 specimens …

The Stick Insects (Insecta: Phasmatodea) From The Cloud Forest Of The Chicaque Natural Park, Colombia, Andres David Murcia, Oscar J. Cadena-Castañeda

Insecta Mundi

A faunal study for the order Phasmatodea of the Chicaque Natural Park is presented, including a list of species found, descriptions, redescriptions, and biological notes. A total of nine species were found and studied; two new genera: Ramandeun new genus, Nubilophasma new genus, and four new species: Atrato­morpha jorgei new species, Isagoras franciscoverai new species, Nubilophasma chicaquensis new genus and new species, and Ramandeum coronatum new genus and new species are described. The description of the eggs of the new taxa, of the previously unknown eggs of Paraceroys quadrispinosus (Redtenbacher, 1906), and the redescription of …

Genomics-Based Taxonomic Rearrangement Of Achlyodini And Carcharodini (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae: Pyrginae), Jing Zhang, Qian Cong, Jinhui Shen, Leina Song, Nick V. Grishin

Insecta Mundi

Genomic analysis of Pyrginae Burmeister, 1878 (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae Latreille, 1809) with an emphasis on the tribes Achlyodini Burmeister, 1878 and Carcharodini Verity, 1940 reveals many incon­sistencies between the resulting phylogeny and the current classification. These problems are corrected by proposing new taxa, changing the ranks of others, or synonymizing them, and transferring species between genera. As a result, five subtribes, one genus, 20 subgenera, and one species are proposed as new: Cyclo­semiina Grishin, new subtribe (type genus Cyclosemia Mabille, 1878), Ilianina Grishin, new subtribe (type genus Iliana E. Bell, 1937), Nisoniadina Grishin, new subtribe (type genus Nisoniades Hübner, [1819]), …

Defensive Behaviors Of The Mealybug Nipaecoccus Nipae (Maskell, 1893) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) And The Green Lacewing Ceraeochrysa Claveri (Navás, 1911) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), With Videos Of Dorsal Packet Loading And Mealybug Ostiole Function, Erin C. Powell

Insecta Mundi

The interactions between the lacewing Ceraeochrysa claveri (Navás) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) larva and the coconut mealybug Nipaecoccus nipae (Maskell) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) were recorded. The third-instar lacewing larva constructed a dorsal packet using mealybug wax from both male pupal cases and the bodies of adult females. Surprisingly, live nymphs were also frequently placed into the dorsal packet. Prey mealybugs were discarded and not incorporated into the packet after consumption. When disturbed, adult female mealybugs reflex bled from their dorsal ostioles, contacting the mouthparts of the lacewing. The lacewing quickly retreated to clean the mouthparts on the substrate, providing further evidence that ostiolar …

Descriptions Of One Hundred New Species Of Hesperiidae, Jing Zhang, Qian Cong, Nick V. Grishin

Insecta Mundi

A century and a half since the time of Hewitson, we are experiencing a renaissance in species discovery fueled by whole genome sequencing. A large-scale genomic analysis of Hesperiidae Latreille, 1809 (Lepidoptera), including primary type specimens, reveals a deluge of species new to science. One hundred of them (one in a new genus) are described here from the New World (type localities are given in parenthesis): Drephalys (Drephalys) diovalis Grishin, new species (Ecuador: Napo), Euriphellus panador Grishin, new species (Ecuador: Esmeraldas), Euriphellus panamicus Grishin, new species (Panama: Panama), Cecropterus (Thorybes) viridissimus Grishin, new species (Ecuador: Zamora-Chinchipe), …

The Nebraska Bird Review (December 2023) 91(4), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Fall Field Report, August–November 2023, by W. Ross Silcock

NOU Founding Ornithologist, Hypnotist, Physician: Isador Trostler, by Rick Wright

Yellow-throated Warbler in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, by Mark A. Brogie, Bill F. Huser, and Jerry Probst

Holdrege Fall Field Days, Sept. 22–24, 2023

Index to Volume 91

Subscription and Organization Information

Holdrege Fall Field Days, Janis Paseka

Nebraska Bird Review

The 2023 NOU Fall Field Days were held in Holdrege on September 22–24, with approximately 45 in attendance. The programs were held at the Rodeway Inn. The meeting was planned by Robin Harding, Jan Johnson, and Ruthie Stearns. Field trips were led by Robin Harding, Paul Dunbar, and William Flack to numerous locations including Johnson Lake SRA, Elwood Reservoir WMA, the eagle viewing site on the Phelps County Canal in northern Gosper Co., the Platte River bridge south of Overton, Cottonwood WPA, Harlan Co. Reservoir, the Alma water treatment plant, Funk WPA, Nature's Mosaic Recreation Area, and Sacramento-Wilcox WPA.

The …

Social Connections Across Migration: Do Golden- Crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia Atricapilla) That Socialize In Winter Also Breed Together?, Theadora A. Block, Bruce E. Lyon, Zachary Milakonis, Alexis S. Chaine, Daizaburo Shizuka

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Many birds that are territorial in the breeding season live in groups during the nonbreeding season, thereby gaining benefits such as protection from predators and increased access to resources. However, how the social connections in group life change across seasons in migratory animals is mostly unknown. We ask whether winter social connections continue during the breeding season in a migratory songbird. Golden-crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia atricapilla) have distinct, stable winter communities that include both site and group fidelity across years: birds almost always rejoin the same social community each year after migration. If these birds have social connectivity across …

Analysis Of Mitochondrial Dna Sequence Data Demonstrates That Monophyly Of Myotis Occultus Is Complicated By Greater Sampling Of Myotis Lucifugus, Jeffrey M. Lorch, Daniel R. Taylor, Antoinette J. Piaggio

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Abstract

The validity of Myotis occultus as a species unique from Myotis lucifugus has been a source of debate. Most recently, many authorities treat M. occultus as a distinct species, at least in part because a previous study showed that M. occultus and M. l. carissima (the subspecies that occurs in closest geographic proximity to M. occultus) form separate monophyletic clades based on sequences of two mitochondrial genes (cytochrome-b [cytb] and cytochrome oxidase subunit II [COII]). We re-evaluated the phylogenetic relationship between M. occultus and M. lucifugus based on mitochondrial sequences …

Predicting The Potential Distribution In South Korea Of Two Mealybug Species (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) Intercepted On Pineapples In Quarantine, S Bin Kim, Soo-Jung Suh

Insecta Mundi

Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell) and Dysmicoccus neobrevipes Beardsley are major pests of pine­apples, ornamentals, and vegetable crops in many countries around the world. The potential distribution of these mealybug pests into South Korea remains a prime concern because of their high incidence in intercep­tions screened during inspection. Hence, these species prompted a modelling effort to assess their potential risk of introduction. Potential risk maps were developed for these pests with the CLIMEX model based on occurrence records under environmental data. The potential distribution of these pests in South Korea in the 2020s, 2050s and 2090s is projected based on the RCP …

Aksakidion Odontokeras (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Eumolpinae: Eumolpini), A New Genus And Species In An Old Collection From Paraguay, Wills Flowers

Insecta Mundi

Aksakidion odontokeras, new genus and new species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Eumolpinae: Eumolpini), is described from four specimens in the Bowditch Collection at Harvard University. It is dis­tinguished from all other genera in the Eumolpinae by an elongate, seta-bearing, tusk-like projection on the dorsal side of each mandible. Although locality data only mention Paraguay as the country of origin, information about the collector indicates it was collected in the late 19th century in the vicinity of Asunción.

During a recent visit to the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University (MCZ) to study type mate­rial of Neotropical Chrysomelidae, a short series …

A New Species Of Colyphus Spinola (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Clerinae) From Veracruz, Mexico, Jacques Rifkind

Insecta Mundi

Colyphus lostuxtlas new species (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Clerinae) is described from Veracruz, Mexico.

With the addition of the new species described herein, the genus Colyphus Spinola now comprises 27 species, distributed from Mexico to Panama (Ekis 1977; Rifkind 1997, 2014, 2020, 2023; Rifkind and Barr 2011). The spe­cies described herein is known only from a cloud forest reserve (part of La Reserva Biosfera Los Tuxtlas) on the lower slopes of Volcán San Martín in Veracruz, Mexico. Other Colyphus species with distributions in cloud forests include the Costa Rican species C. hansoni Rifkind, C. irazu Ekis, and C. ska Rifkind and Barr, …

An Illustrated Type Catalog Of Trichodesma Leconte, 1861 (Coleoptera: Ptinidae) From Mexico, With Description Of A New Species, Kyle E. Schnepp

Insecta Mundi

Trichodesma nancyae, new species (Coleoptera: Ptinidae), is described from Mexico. The species is illustrated and diagnosed, bringing the total number of extant species in the genus to 73. Lectotypes for Trichodesma beyeri Fall, Trichodesma scripta Champion, and Trichodesma texana Schaeffer are here designated. Habitus and label photographs are provided for types of 12 of the 13 species occurring in Mexico.

New Plagiosarus Bates, 1880 (Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Acanthoderini) From Costa Rica And Notes On P. Melampus Congestus Bates, Josef Vlasak, Antonio Santos-Silva

Insecta Mundi

Plagiosarus transversus Vlasak and Santos-Silva, new species (Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Acanthoderini), is described from Costa Rica. The rank of Plagiosarus melampus congestus Bates, 1885 is discussed.

Nou Founding Ornithologist, Hypnotist, Physician: Isador Trostler, Rick Wright

Nebraska Bird Review

Eminent radiologist Benjamin H. Orndoff, eulogizing an esteemed colleague some months after his death, noted that Isador Simon Trostler (1869–1957) “as a lad . . . became interested in ornithology and herpetology, sending accounts of his observations and explorations to natural history magazines up to the late [18]90s.” Understandably more interested in Trostler’s role as a “pioneer in radiology,” Orndoff had no more to say about the natural history pursuits of one of Nebraska’s most notable early ornithologists, one of the founders 125 years ago of the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union.

Conversely, we birders have known little or nothing of Trostler’s …

Rapid Evolution Of A(H5n1) Influenza Viruses After Intercontinental Spread To North America, Ahmed Kandeil, Christopher Patton, Jeremy C. Jones, Trushar Jeevan, Walter N. Harrington, Sanja Trifkovic, Jon P. Seiler, Thomas Fabrizio, Karlie Woodard, Jasmine C. Turner, Jeri Carol Crumpton, Lance Miller, Adam Rubrum, Jennifer Debeauchamp, Charles J. Russell, Elena A. Govorkova, Peter Vogel, Mia Kim-Torchetti, Yohannes Berhane, David Stallknecht, Rebecca Poulson, Lisa Kercher, Richard J. Webby

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses of clade 2.3.4.4b underwent an explosive geographic expansion in 2021 among wild birds and domestic poultry across Asia, Europe, and Africa. By the end of 2021, 2.3.4.4b viruses were detected in North America, signifying further intercontinental spread. Here we show that the western movement of clade 2.3.4.4b was quickly followed by reassortment with viruses circulating in wild birds in North America, resulting in the acquisition of different combinations of ribonucleoprotein genes. These reassortant A(H5N1) viruses are genotypically and phenotypically diverse, with many causing severe disease with dramatic neurologic involvement in mammals. The proclivity of …

Accelerated Evolution Of Sars-Cov-2 In Free-Ranging White-Tailed Deer, Dillon S. Mcbride, Sofya K. Garushyants, John Franks, Andrew F. Magee, Steven H. Overend, Devra Huey, Amanda M. Williams, Seth A. Faith, Ahmed Kandeil, Sanja Trifkovic, Lance Miller, Trushar Jeevan, Anami Patel, Jacqueline M. Nolting, Michael J. Tonkovich, J. Tyler Genders, Andrew J. Montoney, Kevin Kasnyik, Timothy J. Linder, Sarah N. Bevins, Julianna B. Lenoch, Jeffrey C. Chandler, Thomas J. Deliberto, Eugene V. Koonin, Marc A. Suchard, Philippe Lemey, Richard J. Webby, Martha I. Nelson, Andrew S. Bowman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The zoonotic origin of the COVID-19 pandemic virus highlights the need to fill the vast gaps in our knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 ecology and evolution in non-human hosts. Here, we detected that SARS-CoV-2 was introduced from humans into white-tailed deer more than 30 times in Ohio, USA during November 2021-March 2022. Subsequently, deer-to-deer transmission persisted for 2–8 months, disseminating across hundreds of kilometers. Newly developed Bayesian phylogenetic methods quantified how SARS-CoV-2 evolution is not only three-times faster in white-tailed deer compared to the rate observed in humans but also driven by different mutational biases and selection pressures. The long-term effect of …

Pathogenicity In Chickens And Turkeys Of A 2021 United States H5n1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Clade 2.3.4.4b Wild Bird Virus Compared To Two Previous H5n8 Clade 2.3.4.4 Viruses, Mary J. Pantin-Jackwood, Erica Spackman, Christina Leyson, Sungsu Youk, Scott A. Lee, Linda M. Moon, Mia K. Torchetti, Mary L. Killian, Julianna B. Lenoch, Darrell R. Kapczynski, David E. Swayne, David L. Suarez

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) of subtype H5 of the Gs/GD/96 lineage remain a major threat to poultry due to endemicity in wild birds. H5N1 HPAIVs from this lineage were detected in 2021 in the United States (US) and since then have infected many wild and domestic birds. We evaluated the pathobiology of an early US H5N1 HPAIV (clade 2.3.4.4b, 2021) and two H5N8 HPAIVs from previous outbreaks in the US (clade 2.3.4.4c, 2014) and Europe (clade 2.3.4.4b, 2016) in chickens and turkeys. Differences in clinical signs, mean death times (MDTs), and virus transmissibility were found between chickens and …

Raccoon Spatial Ecology In The Rural Southeastern United States, Jacob E. Hill, Madison L. Miller, James L. Helton, Richard B. Chipman, Amy T. Gilbert, James C. Beasley, Guha Dharmarajan, Olin E. Rhodes Jr.

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The movement ecology of raccoons varies widely across habitats with important implications for the management of zoonotic diseases such as rabies. However, the spatial ecology of raccoons remains poorly understood in many regions of the United States, particularly in the southeast. To better understand the spatial ecology of raccoons in the southeastern US, we investigated the role of sex, season, and habitat on monthly raccoon home range and core area sizes in three common rural habitats (bottomland hardwood, upland pine, and riparian forest) in South Carolina, USA. From 2018–2022, we obtained 264 monthly home ranges from 46 raccoons. Mean monthly …

Raccoon Spatial Ecology In The Rural Southeastern United States, Jacob E. Hill, Madison L. Miller, James L. Helton, Richard B. Chipman, Amy Gilbert, University Of Georgia, Guha Dharmarajan, Olin E. Rhodes Jr.

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The movement ecology of raccoons varies widely across habitats with important implications for the management of zoonotic diseases such as rabies. However, the spatial ecology of raccoons remains poorly understood in many regions of the United States, particularly in the southeast. To better understand the spatial ecology of raccoons in the southeastern United States, we investigated the role of sex, season, and habitat on monthly raccoon home range and core area sizes in three common rural habitats (bottomland hardwood, upland pine, and riparian forest) in South Carolina, USA. From 2018–2022, we obtained 264 monthly home ranges from 46 raccoons. Mean …