Agricultural Influences on Movement Patterns of White-Footed Mice (Peromyscus leucopus)

Abstract

-Five habitat types in northwestern Ohio-woods, woods' edge, roadside ditches, crop fields and farmsteads-were sampled in order to better understand the effects of agricultural crop development on dispersal and population dynamics of Peromyscus leucopus. White-footed mice were present in all habitat types and moved from one type to another. Favored habitats in spring were woods and woods' edge, but as crops began developing in summer, occurrence in each of the other habitat types increased and lasted until after crop removal in autumn. Reproduction occurred in all habitats, but was highest in woods and woods' edge. These results indicate use of nonwoodland habitats by P leucopus and suggest that crop fields and roadside ditches act as dispersal routes, facilitating movements into and out of what were formerly considered isolated woodlots.