The social role of scent marking in beaver (Castor canadensis)
Muller-Schwarze D and Heckman S. 1980. The social role of scent marking in beaver (Castor canadensis). Journal of Chemical Ecology. 6(1):81-95
FIELD WORK: July, August and October 1977; and May through August 1978. MAMMALS - BEAVER: 133 beaver lodges were studied on Mount Desert Island. 50 were occupied, 64 were not. The study indicated that scent mounds are used for territoriality. The closer neighboring beaver are to a colonized lodge, the more scent mounds they create. 'Fake' high densities of beavers can be created by applying scent marks near vacant lodges during May through July to discourage colonizing in that area, and to increase emigration from those areas. Concludes that scent mounds serve in delineating family territories and are effective in deterring transient beaver from utilizing existing but uninhabited lodges /STUDY LOCATIONS:/ /MOUNT DESERT ISLAND
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Muller-Schwarze, D.; Heckman, Susan
- Units
- ACAD
- Keywords
- Mount Desert Island, Natural Resource Management