RADIO TRACKING RATS IN MALAYA - A PRELIMINARY STUDY
Abstract
Miniature, transistorized radio transmitters were successfully adapted for use on rats in Mayala. Ground-to-ground ranges of the transmitters varied from 50 to about 350 yards. During a 3-month period, nine wild rats were followed for periods of from 1 to 13 days. Although there was some individual variation, the rats usually returned to the same den day after day. The rats were reluctant to expose themselves to visual observation. When dens were in heavy ground cover, rats sometimes emerged from them during daylight but remained under cover until darkness. In the absence of heavy ground cover, the rats left the dens just after the onset of darkness. The home ranges of many rats--of the same and of different species-overlapped. Leptospirosis-positive and leptospirosis-negative rats had overlapping home ranges. Standard diameters determined by radio-tracking were consistently smaller than the standard diameters found in the same general area by an earlier worker using livetrapping data.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 31, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0422777
Entities
People
- Beverly C. Sanderson
- Glen C. Sanderson
Organizations
- Illinois Natural History Survey