TY - JOUR T1 - Size preference for novel objects by the eastern woodrat (Neotoma floridana) under field conditions JF - Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science Y1 - 1984 A1 - Kaufman, D.M. A1 - D.W. Kaufman KW - rodent KW - woodrat AB -

Natural objects such as branches, leaves, bones and rocks are used in the construction and maintenance of houses by eastern woodrats. Woodrats also use novel items, e.g. pieces of metal, introduced into their home ranges. Ireland and Hays (1969) took advantage of this tendency and examined home range size from observations of the use of number tinfoil balls by woodrats. We examined the use of novel items, aluminum foil balls, plased in areas used by woodrats under field conditions to answer two general questions: 1) Do woodrats exhibit a size preference for novel items? 2) Does preference vary with distance between the house or burrow and the available items?

VL - 87 ER -