Age-related reproduction of raccoons in Missouri

Abstract

"The reproductive biology of raccoons (Procyon lotor) has been thoroughly studied (Sanderson and Nalbandov 1973). However, productivity is less well known and few studies have reported on it according to age classes of the females (Root 1981, Junge and Sanderson 1982). Pregnancy rates and litter sizes vary among age cohorts and years. Factors responsible for this variability are not well established. Objectives of this study were (1) To determine the productivity of various age classes of female raccoons in Missouri, (2) To determine the reproductive phenology of Missouri raccoons, and (3) To investigate factors affecting sexual maturity in yearling female raccoons. A literature review examines age-related productivity in selected North American carnivores. Information on infectious canine distemper and raccoon blood parameters were collected incidental to the main study and are reported in the appendices."--Introduction.