Abstract
House mice ( Mus musculus ) avoid odors of members of neighboring social groups, or demes, with which they share common territorial boundaries. I investigated reactions of mice to air-transported odors of whole-body, urine, and feces. Mice were given a choice between fresh air and either air-transported odors of members of their own deme or those of another deme with which they had not had prior contact. Mice spent more time near odors of members of their own deme and avoided odors of members of the unfamiliar deme. In addition, mice spent more time in contact with urine and feces originating from members of their own group than those of unfamiliar-deme members. Generally, mice avoid odors of members of other social groups. Prior contact between groups or their physical proximity is not required for avoidance to occur. Recognition of group-odor complexes may be a factor in population dynamics of rodents.
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