Threats To Species Survival
Island carnivores at the top of the food chain often become extinct soon after the arrival of humans. The main danger to the pygmy raccoon is development of Cozumel due to the tourism industry. Because the raccoons are only located in a small coastal area at the northwest corner of the island- an area coveted for development- the effects of habitat loss are especially severe. There are no laws protecting the raccoons and also no land set aside for them.
Newer threats to their survival that have been researched in recent years are diseases and parasites. Cozumel has a population of feral cats and domestic cats and dogs that can transmit diseases to the raccoons. On average, there are about 2 different species present in each host. That is not overall abundance, but simply the absolute number of species found. Some captured raccoons had developed antibodies to certain diseases. Cats are only newly introduced on the island due to humans bringing them as pets.
Read more about this topic: Cozumel Raccoon
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