Scent-marking in the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) as a means of territory defense

Abstract

Beaver (Castor spp.) normally scent mark by depositing castoreum and/or anal gland secretion on scent mounds close to the water's edge. The aim of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that the Eurasian beaver (C. fiber) scent marks as a means of territory defense. Scent marking behavior was studied during an entire year (1 April 1995 - 31 March 1996) in 7 adjacent territories along 9.2 km of the Bø River in Telemark County, Norway. The number and location of fresh scent marks were recorded biweekly. The main results showed that:1) the number of scent marks in territories was significantly higher in spring, when dispersal of subadults normally occurs, than during the rest of the year; 2) the number of scent marks was clumped near territorial borders; and 3) the number of scent marks were significantly greater upstream than downstream of the lodge.