Does the presence of a human tracker affect the behaviour of radio-tagged wood mice Apodemus sylvaticus?

ABSTRACT 1. While the effect on animals of handling them and fitting them with radio tags has been investigated, little work has been reported testing the effect of the presence of a human observer tracking an animal. 2. The activity of wood mice fitted with radio collars and confined to a semifield...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Mammal review 2004-12, Vol.34 (4), p.311-314
Main Authors: PROSSER, PHIL, BROWN, SARA, BROOKES, KATE
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Apodemus sylvaticus
disturbance
home range
radio tracking
telemetry
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Summary:ABSTRACT 1. While the effect on animals of handling them and fitting them with radio tags has been investigated, little work has been reported testing the effect of the presence of a human observer tracking an animal. 2. The activity of wood mice fitted with radio collars and confined to a semifield pen was measured in the presence and the absence of a human observer. Free‐ranging wood mice were radio tracked by using two protocols: ‘fixes’ taken periodically, and periods of continuous tracking. 3. There was no significant difference in any quantified aspect of the animals’ behaviour. This suggests that the presence of a human tracker has a negligible effect on the behaviour of wood mice.
ISSN:0305-1838
1365-2907
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2907.2004.00051.x