The effect of simulated intergroup encounters on movement patterns and home range use in banded mongooses

Intergroup conflicts have a wide range of impacts, including affecting movement and ranging patterns. Previous studies found contrasting movement responses to intergroup conflicts, but no explanation for these differences has been suggested. However, these can be broadly grouped into ‘conflict avoidance' responses: avoiding areas close to the fight; and ‘defence' responses: ‘patrolling' and using the edges of the group's territory. We experimentally simulated intergroup encounters in banded mongoose groups to assess whether mongooses respond to intergroup encounters by avoiding conflict or investing in defence. We measured movement characteristics; path characteristics in the core versus periphery of the home range; and changes to home range use. We found that mongooses spend more time in the core in the day after presentations, and after presentations groups moved further and faster when in the periphery. However, these effects were similar in both control and experimental trials, potentially because control stimuli were also perceived as threats by the mongooses. Overall, our results suggest that our presentation of stimuli affects use of the home range over a single day, but not in the next seven days, suggesting limited longer‐term impact of conflict on mongoose behaviour. This finding raises questions as to how intergroup conflicts impact social groups in the long term.