RACCOON HABITAT USE AT 2 SPATIAL SCALES

Among the numerous studies of raccoon (Procyon lotor) habitat use, non e have explicitly considered habitat use at multiple spatial scales. F ifty-seven sites were selected in the vicinity of Ottawa, Ontario, Can ada. An index of raccoon abundance was obtained from 2 tracking statio ns at each site. Macrohabitat features were measured in a l-km radius circle (314 ha) around each site. Microhabitat woody vegetation featur es were characterized in a 10-m radius around each tracking station, U sing stepwise Poisson regression analyses, we found that raccoons freq uented: (1) woody vegetation features that are associated with fencero ws, den trees, and deciduous stands, (2) macrohabitats with extensive agricultural edge, and (3) wooded remnants in areas with extensive cor n cover. This information on raccoon habitat use in rural areas will a id in rabies control programs and identifies localities where heavy ra ccoon depredation is likely to occur.