Ranging and parental care of the raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides during pup rearing

Three pairs of raccoon dogsNyctereutes procyonoides (Gray, 1834) were observed by continuous radio-tracking (one 24-h session, once a week) during the first six weeks after parturition. Males spent noticeably more time (40.5% ±11.7 SD) alone with the pups than females (16.4% ±8.5 SD). Females had noticeably larger home ranges (95% kernel: 98.24 ha ±51.71 SD) than males (14.73 ha ±8.16 SD) and moved much longer daily distances (7368 m ±2015 SD) than males (4094 m ±2886 SD) in six weeks postpartum. The raccoon dogs left the breeding den in the 6th week after the birth of the pups.In situ video observation showed that the male carried prey to the den to provide the female and the litter with food. A clear division of labour took place among parents during the period in which the pups were nursed: males guarded the litter in the den or in close vicinity of it, while the females foraged to satisfy their increased energy requirements.