Relative success of residents and immigrants in Peromyscus leucopus

The relative success of a sample of 99 immigrant dispersers was studied in a population of Peromyscus leucopus in deciduous forest from 1980 to 1985. Dispersers were identified in two ways; (1) as immigrants to a natural dispersal sink and (2) as individuals that relocated their center of activity more than one home range diameter within a large live‐trapping system. Female immigrants were significantly less likely to be pregnant or lactating than philopatric residents; males showed no significant difference. Reproductive immigrants were more likely than non‐reproductive immigrants to establish residency after dispersal. There was no difference in survivorship of philopatrie residents and those dispersers that successfully immigrated.