Average distance traveled by red squirrels, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus, and home range size variation related to sex and weight.

Abstract

In a mixed deciduous/coniferous stand four red squirrels, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus, were trapped, weighted, and sex was determined. Each squirrel was radio-collared with a specific frequency transmitter and released. Squirrels 672, 713, and 563 were tracked for six days to a point on a grid made up of 20m x 20m squares. Squirrel 693 was captured last and subsequently was tracked for only three days. Data from previous years were combined with this years observations. No correlation was found between home range size and weight. Home range sizes of males and females were not signficantly different. Two of the four squirrels showed a pattern of higher average distance traveled in the morning and evening hours and lower average distance traveled in the afternoon. Home ranges of the four squirrels overlapped with one or all of the other three radio-collared squirrels.