D. Vanvuren et al., TRANSLOCATION AS A NONLETHAL ALTERNATIVE FOR MANAGING CALIFORNIA GROUND-SQUIRRELS, The Journal of wildlife management, 61(2), 1997, pp. 351-359
To evaluate the efficacy of translocation as a nonlethal management al
ternative, we determined trapability, post-release survival, site fide
lity and homing ability of experimentally translocated California grou
nd squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyl). Trapability of squirrels was low
(0.04 captures/trap-day.). Most squirrels (71-79%) survived until gre
ater than or equal to 18 days after translocation; mortality was highe
st shortly after release, and was attributed mostly to predation. Of t
hose squirrels that survived but did not return home, 85% established
a new home range, but most settled away from the release site. Homing
success decreased with translocation distance. Our data do not support
the hypothesis that homing results from navigation, but they do suppo
rt the hypothesis that homing results from piloting when squirrels are
inside their area of familiarity, perhaps extended by visual detectio
n of distant landmarks, and random search when outside. Translocation
probably is infeasible for control of squirrels over large areas becau
se of low trapability, but shows potential for smaller localities. Squ
irrels, however, must be translocated far enough (ca. 1,500 m) to prev
ent homing, and lack of fidelity to the release site may result in squ
irrels settling in undesirable locations.