The Social System of the Grey Squirrel

AbstractThe social system of the grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) was investigated. The area used by males and females expands after weaning, then stabilizes and remains the same in location and extent for life. The home range of an established individual is broadly overlapped by the home ranges...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Behaviour 1978, Vol.64 (3-4), p.305-328
Main Author: Thompson, D.C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agonistic behavior
Animals
Female animals
Homes
Human aggression
Male animals
Mating behavior
Social systems
Squirrels
Summer
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Summary:AbstractThe social system of the grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) was investigated. The area used by males and females expands after weaning, then stabilizes and remains the same in location and extent for life. The home range of an established individual is broadly overlapped by the home ranges of several other animals. Each established individual is regularly in contact with only a limited number of recognized neighbours with which it has well-established dominance relationships. Individual recognition promotes lowered aggressive levels between neighbours which allows each squirrel to use its entire home range evenly. Aggressive behaviour is directed toward strange squirrels, either young or immigrants, which attempt to enter this system. Thus, the established individuals hinder the settlement of new animals. Young squirrels born in a given locality have a greater chance of establishing than do immigrants. The relevance of the findings to population regulation is discussed.
ISSN:0005-7959
1568-539X
DOI:10.1163/156853978X00080