Why do North American Red Squirrel, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus, Mothers Relocate Their Young? A Predation-based Hypothesis

Authors

  • Tricia Kerr McGill University, Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Macdonald Campus, 21,111 Lakeshore Road, Ste-Anne-de- Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9
  • Sébastien Descamps Département de Biologie, Chimie et Géographie, Université du Québec à Rimouski - Centre d'Études Nordiques, 300 allée des Ursulines, Rimouski, Québec G5L 3A1

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v122i1.546

Keywords:

North American Red Squirrel, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus, Short-Tailed Weasel, Mustela erminea, nest predation, juvenile survival, juvenile relocation, arboreal foraging, nest defence

Abstract

Our study reports the first observations consistent with Short-Tailed Weasel predation on juvenile North American Red Squirrels in the nest. Red Squirrel mothers are known to relocate their young to another nest after a disturbance. We suggest that this behaviour might be an efficient strategy that reduces the impact of litter depredation by weasels.

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Issue

Vol. 122 No. 1 (2008)

Section

Notes

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