Food Habits of the Raccoon Dog Nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus in a Mountainous Area of Japan

Abstract

The food habits of the raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus were studied in a mountainous area of Honshu Island, Japan from November 1979 to October 1980. Examination of four hundred and fifty feces revealed that fruits and insects were the most important food items in the study area, and that the raccoon dog is an opportunistic forager which collects food from the ground. The raccoon dog's food habits are discussed in relation to its distribution.