Some Behavior Characteristics of Mammals Useful in Management

Abstract

There are several behavior characteristics among certain mammals that have been given inadequate attention, particularly from the standpoint of their having potential value in management. One of these is homing behavior, and another is the tendency for many individuals of certain species having restricted home ranges to remain in or close to the area where they were born, or where they have been held in captivity. The latter is considered in this paper to be a manifestation of homing behavior. Homing in certain mammals has long been recognized. Familiar examples among domestic mammals are cats and dogs that returned home after having been released many miles away. Hamilton (1939) remarks that the homing instinct is apparently well developed in most of our native mammals, for all species in which the trait has been studied exhibit a marked sense of direction. He found homing behavior well developed in eastern deer mice, red squirrels and eastern chipmunks. Mohr (1934) found that ear-tagged bats transported 30 miles from their roost readily returned. The Muries (1931) found homing well developed in western deer mice. Apparently this trait is more characteristic of some mammals than others, for Hamilton (op. cit.) claims it is not so well developed in the field mouse (Microtus) as it is in the deer mouse; and Linsdale (1946) believes that California ground squirrels . . are familiar with only the immediate surroundings of their homes and that they are poorly equipped to find the way back when transported outside that area.