Interim profile, incomplete information
Details of this species in Japan Status: Alien
Invasiveness: Invasive
Occurrence: Established
Source: Ikeda, Tohru (Research Group of Regional Science, Hokkaido University)., pers.comm February 2009 Arrival Date:
Introduction: Intentional Species Notes for this Location:
The raccoon was mainly imported as a pet animal in Japan. Escapes and irresponsible abandonment by owners are main causes for the establishment of the raccoon in Japan.
The first record in Japan was Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture in 1962; the second from Eniwa City, Hokkaido Prefecture in 1979, and the third from Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture in 1988. The raccoon has already become established in 36 prefectures (Hokkaido, Aomori, Yamagata, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Ishikawa, Fukui, Gifu, Nagano, Shizuoka, Aichi, Mie, Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, Wakayama, Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Oita), but temporal invasions have been reported in all 47 prefectures in Japan. Mating season is usually from January to March (Ikeda et al. 2004). Mean pregnancy rate is 0.66 in yearlings and 0.96 in adults, and mean litter size is 3.6 in yearlings and 3.9 in adults in west-central Hokkaido. The rate of population growth in west-central Hokkaido is estimated to range from 0.20 to 0.25 without harvest mortality (Asano et al. 2003). An 8 years old raccoon was recorded in Hokkaido.
The raccoon in Japan shows opportunistic and omnivorous feeding habits, and eats a wide variety of foods such as insects, reptiles, crustaceans, birds, small mammals, fruits, crops and garbage. In general, animal fat is taken in summer and vegetable fat in autumn in Hokkaido. In Japan, the raccoon mainly inhabits forests near water, often preferring the forest edge, but can inhabit agricultural, suburb and urban areas. Tree hollows and rock crevices are preferred as dens, but burrows of other animals and abandoned houses or roof spaces are also used. The raccoon sometimes uses drainpipes as travel paths in urban area.
In Japan, home range size in urban areas is smaller than in suburban and forested areas; the largest home range recorded is 2,219 ha for male in forested area and the smallest is 35 ha for female in urban area. Density also is usually high in urban and agricultural areas. The highest record is 13.8/km2 in Kanagawa Prefecture. The raccoon is nocturnal, and has polygamous mating system. It is good at climbing up trees and swimming. The raccoon in Hokkaido remains still in the den and avoids energy expenditure in winter season. The raccoon has no natural enemies except for birds of prey for juveniles in Japan. Management Notes for this Location:
The Invasive Alien Species Act, enacted in 2005, designated the raccoon as invasive alien species and the control is promoted by the central and local governments. Impacts:
Agricultural: The raccoon damages crops and fruits such as corn, melons, watermelons, strawberries, paddy rice, soybeans, potatoes, beets, oats, and so on in summer and autumn. The total amount of agricultural damage amounts from 30-40 million yen every year in Hokkaido (Ikeda, Tohru (Research Group of Regional Science, Hokkaido University)., pers.comm February 2009).
Competition: Resource competition with the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) turned these animals out into unfavorable habitats (Ikeda, Tohru (Research Group of Regional Science, Hokkaido University)., pers.comm February 2009).
Disease transmission: Infectious disease such as raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) infection has not been detected in naturalized raccoons yet, but detected in captivity (Ikeda, Tohru (Research Group of Regional Science, Hokkaido University)., pers.comm February 2009).
Economic/Livelihoods: The raccoon damages crops and fruits such as corn, melons, watermelons, strawberries, paddy rice, soybeans, potatoes, beets, oats, and so on in summer and autumn. The total amount of agricultural damage amounts from 30-40 million yen every year in Hokkaido (Ikeda, Tohru (Research Group of Regional Science, Hokkaido University)., pers.comm February 2009).
Reduction in native biodiversity: Predation on the Japanese crayfish (Cambaroides japonicus), the Ezo salamander (Hynobius retardatus) is serious. Impacts on Tokyo hynobiid salamander (Hynobius tokyoensis), Red claws crab (Chiromantes haematocheir) and shore crab (Helice tridens) are also concerned. Nest abandonment of the grey heron (Ardea cinerea) due to the raccoon attacking of the reproductive colony is reported (Ikeda, Tohru (Research Group of Regional Science, Hokkaido University)., pers.comm February 2009). Last Modified: 3/03/2009 4:12:22 p.m.
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