Graduate Program

Biological Sciences

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

2006

Thesis Director

Thomas Nelson

Thesis Committee Member

Eric Bollinger

Thesis Committee Member

Scott Meiners

Abstract

Conversion of native plant communities for purposes such as urban development, agriculture and industry reduces the amount of intact wildlife habitat and fragments that which remains. Much of the natural habitat in the Midwestern U.S. has been converted to agricultural use. Population declines of many avian species have been attributed to high rates of predation in fragmented landscapes. Furthermore, edge-related increases in nest predation are one of the main factors in reducing reproductive success. Studies throughout Illinois have suggested that the entire state may be a population sink for several species of birds. Mesocarnivores, particularly raccoons (Procyon lotor) and skunks (Mephitis mephitis) have been implicated as two of the most important predators impacting nesting birds in the Midwest. Based on high rates of predation in artificial nest studies, some researchers have suggested that the decline in ground-nesting birds may be attributed to predation by raccoons. Raccoon populations have increased dramatically over the past twenty years due to declines in the fur market and harvests, and changes in land use, particularly fragmentation of grasslands and wetlands in agricultural landscapes. Conservation of nesting birds in contemporary landscapes with high raccoon densities have prompted suggestions that lethal predator control programs may be warranted, however, non-lethal approaches that separate avian nesting habitat from raccoon travel corridors may provide an acceptable alternative. The objectives of my study were to evaluate home ranges and movements of raccoons during the avian nesting and brood-rearing season, describe patterns of habitat selection at three spatial scales, and suggest appropriate management strategies to reduce the impact of raccoons on nesting birds. Twenty-one raccoons were radio-tracked on Richardson Wildlife Foundation in north-central Illinois from May through August of 2002 and 2003. The mean 95% adaptive kernel home range for all raccoons was 60.5 ha, whereas the mean 50% core area contour was 8.1 ha. Males moved faster than females during nocturnal foraging bouts, averaging 355.5 m/hr and 192.3 m/hr, respectively. Raccoons tended to follow linear landscape features such as fencerows, forest edges and mowed trails. Raccoon home ranges contained more forest edge and less cropland than the available study area. Within their home ranges, raccoons selected forest edges within their core areas, and selected forest edge and wetlands while foraging.

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