Philopatry, Dispersal, and Social Organization of Gunnison's Prairie Dogs

Abstract

I examined dispersal and social organization of Gunnison's prairie dogs (Cynomys gunni­ soni) for 7 years at Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona. Within colonies, individuals lived in harem-polygynous family groups called clans. The number of clans at the study site each year ranged from 21 to 23, with a mean of 22.3. Clan size (the number of adults living in the same territory) ranged from 1 to 19, with a mean of 5.30. Clans contained 1.06 ± 0.39 (SD) breeding males, 3.01 ± 2.08 breeding females, and 1.23 ± 1.65 non­ breeding yearling males. Some clans contained two breeding males, and others contained no resident breeding male. The area of clan territories ranged from 0.16 ha to 1.82 ha, with a mean of 0.67 ha. Females were more likely than males to copulate as yearlings (100% versus 24%). Ninety-five percent of females (340/358) remained in the natal clan territory for life, but only 5% of males (3/66) remained in the natal clan territory for> 1 year after weaning. Dispersal of both sexes was most commonly to an adjacent clan territory. Infan­ ticide at the study colony was rare or absent.