HOME RANGE AND NEST USE OF THE GOLDEN MOUSE (OCHROTOMYS NUTTALLI) IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

Abstract

To estimate home range and ascertain nesting habits of golden mice (Ochrotomys nuttalli), 19 individuals were radiocollared and their nests located. Individual home-range area did not significantly vary with sex, season, or number of nests used; minimum convex polygon and adaptive kernel estimates ranged from 0.18 to 1.33 ha and from 0.33 to 2.82 ha, respectively. Home-range overlap among individuals was considerable. No difference existed in distances between nests used by the same individual. Females used more arboreal nests; males used more ground nests. Only males exclusively used ground nests. Significant variables associated with placement of both ground and arboreal nests were distance to nearest vines and undergrowth, densities of herbaceous and woody stems, and density of understory 0.5 m at 1 m from the nest. Depth of leaf litter and size (dbh) of nearest tree also predicted placement of ground nests. Density of understory, 1.6-2.0 m high, and number of herbaceous stems significantly predicted placement of arboreal nests. The golden mouse may be less of a habitat specialist than believed. Management for invasive or early successional plant species may enhance habitat for this species.