Seasonal activity changes in raccoon dogs and influences of environmental factors from autumn to winter

Raccoon dogs Nyctereutes procyonoides are on the List of National Key
Protected Wild Animals as Grade II in China; research on their wild
populations is limited despite their conservation significance. In this
context, we focused on seasonal activity changes from autumn to winter and
their relationship to environmental and mammalian factors. Using 71 trail
cameras from October 15, 2023, to February 29, 2024, in the Sizuolou
Nature Reserve in Beijing, China, this study is the first to examine these
specific aspects within the country. Our findings revealed a statistically
significant change in raccoon dog activity from autumn to winter. This
suggests they may enter short periods of winter sleep, as indicated by the
20-day intervals without camera detections. The average re-photographing
interval was 2.62 ± 3.41 (SD) days. In the daily activity pattern, kernel
density estimation indicated that raccoon dogs were nocturnal in both
seasons; however, daytime activity was observed only in autumn. Our
results revealed that proximity to agricultural land negatively affected
and the presence of Siberian roe deer positively influenced the number of
raccoon dog events. Additionally, our results supported the previous
categorisation of raccoon dogs into two habitat types, with our study
population being near the type that avoids agricultural land. Our findings
suggested that raccoon dogs and Siberian roe deer co-occur due to raccoon
dogs preferring habitats that were also favoured by deer.