Ah. Hubbs et R. Boonstra, EFFECTS OF FOOD AND PREDATORS ON THE HOME-RANGE SIZES OF ARCTIC GROUND-SQUIRRELS (SPERMOPHILUS-PARRYII), Canadian journal of zoology, 76(3), 1998, pp. 592-596
We used radiotelemetry to study the effects of food addition and preda
tor reduction on the home-range sizes of adult Arctic ground squirrels
(Spermophilus parryii) on large-scale experimental grids in the borea
l forest of the southwestern Yukon Territory. Home ranges were 2-7 tim
es smaller on food-supplemented grids than on nonsupplemented grids, r
egardless of whether large mammalian predators were present. Similarly
, core areas (where 50% of activities occur) were 8-11 times Smaller o
n food-supplemented grids. Food availability rather than predator pres
ence primarily determined the sizes of home ranges and core areas of A
rctic ground squirrels.