HABITAT USE BY RACCOONS (PROCYON LOTOR)
 IN A SANDHILL/WETLAND MOSAIC
 OF NORTH-CENTRAL FLORIDA



 Susan Walker'




 ABSTRACT



 Raccoons (Procyon lotor) were trapped in November 1991 and February, May, and August 1992 at
the Ordway Preserve in north-central Florida. Use of five habitat types (sandhill, swamp, hammock, old field
and upland clear-water-lake fringes) by 20 radio-collared individuals was monitored from November 1991
to May 1992. Results indicated a preference by raccoons for mesic habitats on the preserve, although there
was considerable individual variability. Sandhill, the critical habitat type for the threatened species,
Gopherus polyphemus, was used less than expected according to availability. Two raccoons accounted for
34% of the locations in the sandhills. Habitat types were used differently by males and females and for
foraging and resting. Most rest sites were in trees, and squirrels' nests were the most commonly used tree rest
sites.


 RESUME



 Se capturaron mapaches (Procyon lotor) en noviembre de 1991 y febrero, mayo y agosto de 1992 en
 la Reserva Ordway, en el centro-norte del estado de Florida. Entre noviembre de 1991 y mayo de 1992 se
 monitored el uso por 20 individuos con radio-collares de cinco tipos de habitat ("sandhills", pantanos,
 bosques de maderas duras, campos abandonados y costas de lagos de tierras altas). Los resultados indicaron
 una preferencia de los mapaches por los habitats mis himedos, aunque hubo gran variabilidad individual.
 Los "sandhills", el tipo de habitat critic para la especie amenezada Gopherus polyphemus, fueron usados
 menos que lo esperado segin su disponibilidad. Dos mapaches contribuyeron el 34% de las localizaciones en
 ese hAbitat Los distintos tipos de hAbitat fueron usados de manera diferente por machos y hembras y para
 forrajeo y descanso. La mayoria de los sitios de descanso estuvieron en Arboles; los nidos de ardillas fueron
 los sitios de descanso mis comunes en Arboles.





 SThe author is a Ph.D. student in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, P.O. Box 110430, Gainesville FL 32611-0430,
 U.S.A.


 WALKER, S. 1995. Habitat use by raccoons in a sandhill/wetland mosaic of north-central Florida. Bull.
 Florida Mus. Nat. Hist. 38 PL II(9):245-260.