Observations of raccoon (Procyon lotor) predation on the invasive Maculata apple snail (Pomacea maculata) in southern Louisiana

Jacoby Carter; Sergio Merino; Drew Prejean; Gary LaFleur

doi:10.1656/058.016.0302

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Observations of raccoon (Procyon lotor) predation on the invasive Maculata apple snail (Pomacea maculata) in southern Louisiana

Jacoby Carter·Sergio Merino·Drew Prejean·Gary LaFleur

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Abstract

We used camera traps to determine which predators were responsible for depredated Pomacea maculata (Maculata Apple Snail) shells at 2 different study sites. Evidence of predation at these sites included operculums near the shells with a small amount of flesh attached and shells accumulating a meter or more from the water’s edge with no evidence of recent flooding. In both locations, the most frequently observed potential predators were Procyon lotor (Raccoon), which was the only species directly observed capturing and eating Apple Snails.

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Source-reported bounding extent: 28.700224692776988° to 31.12819929911196° latitude; -94.02099609375° to -89.176025390625° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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Jacoby Carter, Sergio Merino, Drew Prejean, Gary LaFleur. 2017. Observations of raccoon (Procyon lotor) predation on the invasive Maculata apple snail (Pomacea maculata) in southern Louisiana. https://doi.org/10.1656/058.016.0302

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