Den and relocation site characteristics and home ranges of peromyscus truei in the White Mountains of California

We used radio telemetry to describe nighttime movements and daytime den sites of pinyon mice (Peromyscus truei) in the White Mountains of California, 1991-1993. Characteristics of nighttime relocations and den sites for mice concurred with previously reported habitat-use information for the species and supported the claim that pinyon mice use multiple daytime sites. However, males and females were associated with different habitat characteristics at den sites, indicating differential microhabitat selection by the sexes, perhaps related to reproductive constraints on females. Pinyon mice also exhibited high variability in den site habitat use in the summer, but low variability in the fall and winter. The dens of male mice were farther apart than those of females, and home range areas averaged 2.9 ha (s = 4.27 ha) for 8 males, and 0.8 ha (s = 0.76 ha) for 7 females (overall x = 1.7 + 2.97 ha). These areas were larger than those reported for other species of Peromyscus. The combined effects of drought and reduced food availability may have contributed to the larger areas used.

Den and relocation site characteristics and home ranges of peromyscus truei in the White Mountains of California Academic Article