FIRE EFFECTS AND USE
WILDLIFE SPECIES: Procyon lotor | Raccoon 



DIRECT FIRE EFFECTS ON ANIMALS : 
Raccoons are very mobile and probably escape most fires.  There are no
reports of direct raccoon mortality due to fire [24,28].  Dead insects
and small mammals on fresh burns may be attractive to raccoons [44].
Sunguist [38] reported on the reactions of raccoons to a controlled fire
on the Cedar Creek Natural History Area in east-central Minnesota, which
burned 24 acres (10 ha) of savanna habitat.  The burn area was not
heavily utilized by raccoons before the fire and even less utilization
occurred after.  During the 4 days prior to the fire three of four
raccoons visited or traveled through the area to be burned seven times
and spent approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes (total time) in the area.
The raccoons did not enter the burn area on the day of the fire although
they rested at different locations within 0.25 to 0.5 mile (0.4-0.8 km)
of it.  During the 4 days after the fire all four raccoons visited or
traveled through the burned area six times and spent approximately 2
hours and 30 minutes (total time) in it.


HABITAT RELATED FIRE EFFECTS : 
Fire that creates a mosaic of burned and unburned areas is probably the
most beneficial to raccoons.  Lynch [27] reported that in Gulf Coast
marshes, raccoons were favored by "spotty cover burns" (burning the area
when there is from 3 to 5 inches [8-13 cm] of standing water present).
The unburned marsh vegetation provided cover for raccoons.  Longhurst's
[25] observations at the Hopland Field Station in California showed that
populations of raccoons increased in young to intermediate chaparral and
grassland-chaparral interspersion.  Populations showed a downward trend
in both mature chaparral and extensive grasslands.

Periodic fire may also help to maintain raccoon food.  Insects and the
fruit of various plants are important in the diet of raccoons.
Populations of insects may increase or decrease as a result of fire
depending on fire severity, habitat, and number of years after fire.
Effects of late winter controlled burning in broom sedge (Carex
scoparia) habitat on arthropod density and biomass were studied by Hurst
[20].  Results of summer sampling revealed that burning increased both
density and biomass of most insect orders.  The apparent cause of the
increases was an increased insect food supply in the form of succulent
plant growth following burning in 4- to 5 -year-old broom sedge habitat.

Oaks, persimmons, plums, cherries, and grapes can be severely reduced by
fire in the short term.  However, except for grapes, these woody species
require openings for establishment.  Edges of burns along forested areas
may be common regeneration sites for many of these plants.  Many
fruiting shrubs such as blackberries (Rubus spp.), blueberries
(Vaccinium spp.), and huckleberries (Vaccinium ssp., Gaylussacia spp.)
do not fruit the year of burning but produce the most fruit 2 to 4 years
after fire pruning [19,24].


FIRE USE : 
Areas supporting fire-sensitive mast and fruit producing hardwood
species (e.g., large oaks and persimmon) should be protected from
burning until they have established [19,24].


REFERENCES : 
NO-ENTRY

Related categories for Wildlife Species: Procyon lotor | Raccoon