Movements and Homing in Townsend's Mole near Tillamook, Oregon

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Abstract
Local movements, dispersal, and homing in Townsend's mole, Scapanus townsendii, were studied near Tillamook, Oregon, in 1964. Data on local movements of established, adult moles were obtained from 179 live captures involving 95 moles. Movements were generally restricted throughout the year to isolated tunnel systems or discrete portions of larger systems, suggesting mutually exclusive habits. Mean of the greatest distance between points of capture for 14 individuals of both sexes captured three or more times each was 133 feet. To study juvenile dispersal, 62 nests were excavated and 180 nestlings marked and returned. From 4 to 6 months later, 44 young from 32 nests had moved distances of 43 to 2808 feet from the birthsite. The average distance moved was 572 feet. Some nocturnal, above-ground dispersal was concluded from the study, and constituted most of the annual surface activity of the species. Homing was achieved by moles that were naturally (by flooding) and artificially displaced different distances and across different barriers to movement. Homing activity mostly explained the rapid re-establishment of populations in bottomlands following flooding. Effects of movements and homing on maintenance of populations are discussed.