Home Range and Activity Patterns of the Giant Kangaroo Rat, Dipodomys ingens

Home range and activity patterns were studied on kangaroo rats, Dipodomys ingens , equipped with blinking-light transmitters. Patterns of space use are presented as three-dimensional utilization distributions (UD) with intensity of use as the third axis. Home ranges, calculated from these UDs ranged from 60 to 350 m2. Study animals were active on average less than 20 min/night, but continued active on nights of rain, snow, and bright moonlight. Males and females did not differ significantly in the size of their home ranges or patterns of activity. Measures of overlap between individual home ranges suggest strict intrasexual avoidance but moderate levels of intersexual contact.