The first record of raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in Turkey

Authors

MORTEZA NADERI
EMRAH ÇOBAN
JOSIP KUSAK
MÜBECCEL ÇİSEL KEMAHLI AYTEKİN
MARK CHYNOWETH
İSMAİL KAYAHAN AĞIRKAYA
NESLİHAN GÜVEN
AYŞEGÜL ÇOBAN
CAGAN H. SEKERCIOGLU

DOI

10.3906/zoo-1910-29

Abstract

The raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) was recorded for the first time in Turkey on May 10, 2019, and June 5, 2019, in the same location after 4668 nights of camera trapping in the forests of the Sarıkamış region and Allahuekber Mountains in eastern Turkey. It was recorded in a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) forest at 2340 m above sea level with extensive snow cover. Given that the nearest known population is in the forests of Georgia approximately 105 km away, there may already be a viable population in Turkey. As an omnivorous species with a high adaptive ability and high reproductive potential, the raccoon dog has strong dispersal capability. It is considered an invasive species in Europe and there are some ongoing eradication activities in several countries. Therefore, we strongly advise that the raccoon dog in Turkey be evaluated as an invasive species and that the relevant authorities conduct extensive research and any necessary management, especially where the habitat and local climate are more favorable for the species? reproduction and range expansion.

Keywords

Conservation biology, eastern Turkey, ecology, invasive species, range expansion

First Page

209

Last Page

213

Recommended Citation

NADERI, MORTEZA; ÇOBAN, EMRAH; KUSAK, JOSIP; AYTEKİN, MÜBECCEL ÇİSEL KEMAHLI; CHYNOWETH, MARK; AĞIRKAYA, İSMAİL KAYAHAN; GÜVEN, NESLİHAN; ÇOBAN, AYŞEGÜL; and SEKERCIOGLU, CAGAN H. (2020) "The first record of raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in Turkey," Turkish Journal of Zoology: Vol. 44: No. 2, Article 15. https://doi.org/10.3906/zoo-1910-29
Available at: https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/zoology/vol44/iss2/15