How quickly do invasive raccoons learn to steal bait? : lesson from disturbed small mammal trapping

The expansion of invasive alien species is a major threat to the environment and economy. Animal invasions, especially by raccoons Procyon lotor are increasingly harmful. Raccoons' reduced neophobia enables easy adaptation to humans and surroundings. They exploit human presence in their natural habitat. Camera traps and direct observations in Germany's Lower Oder Valley National Park and Poland's Lower Oder Valley Landscape Park revealed raccoons' cognitive abilities and effective learning processes. This study demonstrates their rapid learning in finding and opening traps, removing bait, killing and eating trapped rodents. To minimize disturbance by raccoons, we recommend to preselect study plots without raccoons or to use of protective devices.

---

Opracowanie rekordu ze środków MNiSW, umowa nr SONP/SP/546092/2022 w ramach programu "Społeczna odpowiedzialność nauki" - moduł: Popularyzacja nauki i promocja sportu (2024)