Lutra 51(2)_Oerlemans & Koene_2008

Possible implications of the presence of the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in the Netherlands

The raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) is not an indigenous species in Europe. Russians introduced the species into European parts of the former Soviet Union between 1929 and 1955 and the species has spread westward to other European countries ever since. Raccoon dogs are nowadays occasionally seen in the Netherlands. With this new species being present in the Netherlands, it is important to identify the consequent implications for ecosystem functioning in the Netherlands. In this paper, we make a first attempt to identify these implications. The raccoon dog is an opportunistic feeder, what makes this species rather insensitive to fluctuations in single food resources and reduces dietary overlap with fox and badger. As a vector of rabies and the fox tapeworm, the presence of raccoon dogs in the Netherlands might have consequences for wild and domestic animals, as well as for people. Additionally, Trichinella can be carried by raccoon dogs and this disease thus might reach the Netherlands. Mortality, starvation, hunting, disease and traffic accidents often include animal suffering and are thus animal welfare issues. Further investigations of ecological consequences of the presence of raccoon dogs in Dutch ecosystems will contribute to the management and conservation of natural areas in the Netherlands.