Recognition of kin and avoidance of inbreeding in the montane vole, Microtus montanus

Young females of Microtus montanus were housed with an adult male for 9 days postweaning and their sexual maturation noted. Males caused sexual maturation (seen from increased uterine weight) in strange females, but not in daughters. When litters were cross-fostered at birth, males caused sexual maturation in biological daughters that were separated from them at birth, but not in foster daughters. This shows that this species has a mechanism for avoiding inbreeding, with recognition of kin based on familiarity.