A Comparison of Traps and Fluorescent Powder to Describe Foraging for Mast by Peromyscus leucopus

Abstract

The ability to quantify the foraging movements of white-footed mice ( Peromyscus leucopus ) using livetraps or fluorescent powder was compared. No significant shifts in the location of trap captures were detectable before, during, and after the mast-fall within the study area. Fluorescent powder trails revealed a significant shift into oak microhabitats during the mast fall and increased ground foraging during the same period. There was no significant difference in the foraging behavior of males and females. Results indicate fluorescent powder allows more sensitive monitoring of microhabitat shifts than livetrapping.