Abstract
Microtus pennsylvanicus were systematically live-trapped to gain recapture data for home range determination. Using this information, trap-revealed home ranges were plotted by several currently used methods. The same animals were then subjected to isotopic tracing. The location of each of the eight study animals was determined at approximately 45-minute intervals. These data were used to calculate isotope-revealed home ranges. Trap-revealed and isotope-revealed home ranges were then compared. This study indicates that the home ranges determined by the isotope method reflect more accurately the true situation than did those ascertained from live-trapping methods. Home ranges estimated by live-trapping methods gave a false impression of the location and actual size of the true home ranges. A study of the sequence and positions of recapture of some of the study animals indicated a shift of home range over a relatively short period of time, thus showing that time is a vital factor in the interpretation of any home range study.
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