Influence of Displacement Distance and Vision on Homing Behavior of the White-Footed Mouse (Peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis)

Abstract

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the degree to which white-footed mice would home when displaced, the effect distance had upon homing, and whether vision was involved to a significant degree in the process of return. Mice were removed from two study areas during eight nights of trapping and then released at three different release points. Homing was measured by live-trapping during seven nights subsequent to release. Ten replications were conducted over 6 months beginning in August 1973. Mice were capable of returning to their home plots with greater frequency than expected by random wandering when released midway between study areas (336 meters). When released on the study plot opposite from that of capture (671 meters), homing performance was not significantly different than expected by chance. Homing success appeared to be inversely distance dependent and influenced by the habitat where release occurred. The homing success of blinded mice released at the center of the study area where captured was not significantly different than that of intact mice. However, a significantly smaller proportion of blinded mice than intact mice homed when released midway between plots. The survival of blind mice was not significantly different than that of intact mice during at least 7 days subsequent to release on the plots where captured. The homing and survival responses to loss of vision are discussed.