Home Ranges, Territoriality, and Movement of the Meadow Vole

Two populations of the meadow vole, Microtus pennsylvanicus, one inhabiting an abandoned field, the other a grass-sedge marsh, were live-trapped at monthly intervals from September 1957 through September 1958. The mean monthly home range size of the males was larger than that of the females in both areas. The home ranges of the females in the marsh were larger than those in the old field; there was no difference between the home range sizes of the males in the two areas. The home range size in the marsh varied inversely with population density. Environmental conditions in the old field, particularly low winter temperatures, exerted more influence upon home range size than did population density. The data indicate that M. pennsylvanicus displays territorial behavior. The degree of such behavior does not appear to be influenced by population density or environmental conditions. About 20 per cent of the population shifted their home ranges each month. A greater percentage of males moved than did females. The young voles displayed only a slightly greater tendency to move than did the adults.