SPATIAL RELATIONSHIPS AND DISPERSAL PATTERNS IN THE ROCK SQUIRREL, SPERMOPHILUS-VARIEGATUS

We examined spatial relationships, dispersal patterns, and social organization of the rock squirrel (Spermophilus variegatus) in central New Mexico. Density of adult residents was < 2/ha. Yearling females remained near their natal areas and yearling males apparently dispersed. Individual home ranges were large (adult female, XBAR +/- SE = 3.8 +/- 0.6 ha; adult male, 7.9 +/- 7.1 ha) and overlapped ranges of individuals of all sex and age classes. Although adults did not interact outside of the breeding season, non-sibling yearlings did. This population was only moderately social, but shared some characteristics with more social species. These characteristics include delayed sexual maturation in females and considerable overlap in home ranges.