The ability of red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) to discriminate conspecific olfactory signatures

Using a habituation-dishabituation procedure, we investigated the ability o f male red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) to discriminate olfactory si gnatures of different male conspecifics. Our results indicate that they eff ectively pay attention to odours from unfamiliar male conspecifics and that they invest more time sniffing litter impregnated with these unfamiliar so cial odours than control litters. They can also habituate themselves to a g iven social odour and can discriminate olfactory signatures of different ma le conspecifics. The role of olfactory communication in this territorial sp ecies from the boreal forest is discussed with regard to the "dear enemy" p henomenon and to the fact that these squirrels are known to use vocal commu nication intensively to advertise their territories.