Concentration-response of an anthraquinone-based repellent for raccoons (Procyon lotor)

Wildlife repellents can be part of non-lethal management strategies to reduce the negative impacts wildlife property, agricultural production, and human health safety. Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are associated with in all three these areas. Anthraquinone is a useful avian repellent its utility as mammalian still being explored. Our objective was evaluate laboratory efficacy an anthraquinone-based for raccoons using different concentrations. We fed captive whole corn treated at 0.5%, 1%, 1.5% 2% anthraquinone examined their behavioral response related feeding repellency including consumption change duration approach, interaction extended feed bowl. Feeding 26–37% 0.5–1.5% 71% anthraquinone. Interaction among treatments varied (p = 0.005) longer food bowl compared 0.5% However, addition did not significantly alter behaviors interaction, or between pretreatment treatment within treatments. The decreases that we observed warrant development further research field evaluation regarding deterrent repel vertebrate competitors from raccoon specific baits.