عنوان

Raccoon and opossum home ranges, movements, and habitat use in a managed forest of central Mississippi

Number

TLpq304268375

.Language of Text, Soundtrack etc

انگلیسی

Title Proper

Raccoon and opossum home ranges, movements, and habitat use in a managed forest of central Mississippi

General Material Designation

[Thesis]

First Statement of Responsibility

T. S. Wilson

Subsequent Statement of Responsibility

G. A. Hurst

Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.

Mississippi State University

Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.

1996

Specific Material Designation and Extent of Item

132

Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree

M.S.

Body granting the degree

Mississippi State University

Text preceding or following the note

1996

Text of Note

Raccoons (Procyon lotor) and opossums (Didelphis virginianus) have been identified as primary predators of wild turkey eggs and poults. However, little is known about the complex relationship between raccoon and opossum movements, habitat use and wild turkey reproduction. Fifty-four raccoons and 17 opossums were radio-instrumented and monitored from 1 February 1994 to 1 March 1996 on Tallahala Wildlife Management Area, Bienville National Forest, Mississippi. Home ranges were larger for male raccoons (x = 343.13 ha) than females (x = 239.15 ha). Composite home range for male opossums (x = 102.13 ha) were larger than females (x = 72.52 ha). Movement rates for raccoons were greatest during the night. Movement rates for opossums were greatest during the crepuscular morning period. Weather had no significant (P > 0.05) effect on movement rates for either raccoons or opossums. Male and female raccoons used (P > 0.05) mature, mixed (pine and hardwood) forests greater than their availability within their home range. Opossums used (P > 0.05) mature, bottomland hardwood forests greater than their availability within their home range. Raccoon and opossum movements were uncorrelated with turkey nesting habitat selection during the wild turkey pre-nesting, nesting, or post-nesting periods. Management recommendations to encourage/discourage raccoon and opossum habitat use are included.

Bienville National Forest

Biological sciences

Didelphis virginiana

Forestry

Procyon lotor

Tallahala Wildlife Management Area

G. A. Hurst

T. S. Wilson

Electronic name

p

[Thesis]

276903

a

Y