Beaver, Castor canadensis, home range size and patterns of use in the taiga of southeastern manitoba: II. Sex, age, and family status

Abstract

The differences in home range size and patterns of use relating to age, sex and family status for 25 Beavers living in family groups, and 9 non-family Beavers in summer and 23 family and 4 non-family Beavers in fall, were examined in southeastern Manitoba. Home ranges were larger for non-family Beavers (x̄ =17.56 ± 3.8 ha, n = 9) than for those living in family (x̄ =7.74 ± 0.87 ha, n = 25) groups in summer (T = 233.5, p < 0.005) but not in fall (T = 78.5, p > 0.1). Core areas were also larger for non family animals in summer (T = 211.5, p < 0.05) but not in fall (T = 63, p > 0.1). The percent of home range area included in the core area and the percent of activity within the core area did not differ significantly between family and non-family Beavers in either season (p > 0.1). Within families, adult females had smaller home ranges than other family members in summer (p < 0.05) but not in fall (p > 0.1). Home ranges did not differ significantly in size among all other family members in both summer and fall (p > 0.05). Core area size, percent of home range area included in the core area and percent of activity within the core area did not differ among the sex and age classes within family groups (p > 0.1).