First report on the high magnitude of seasonal weight changes in the raccoon dog subspecies Nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus in Japan

In this study,data on seasonal weight changes in the raccoon dog subspecies (nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus) were obtained from an individual recaptured by trapping and from dead individuals collected by radio tracking between august 2006 and april 2007 in a high-altitude area (1300-1700 m) of japan. the rate of weight gain in 2 individuals from spring to autumn was 75-84% and that of another individual for one month from november to december was 34%. the magnitude of seasonal weight changes in the raccoon dogs in the study area was much larger than those previously reported in japanese raccoon dogs from an area with a mild climate and was similar to those in finnish raccoon dogs (n. procyonoides ussuriensis) in areas with cold climates,indicating that japanese raccoon dogs could plastically change their fat reserves according to climate changes.