Determining activity types and budgets from movement speed of radio.marked mongooses

Abstract

: Determination of different behaviors of active animals that are difficult to observe is a continuing problem. Thus, we developed a method to delineate foraging, eating, and walking behaviors of radio-marked Egyptian mongooses (Herpe.stes ichneumon) by monitoring their rate of movement in southwestern Spain. Mongooses spent an average of 7111% of their time resting, 21.3% foraging, 5.8% eating, and 2.8% walking. The application of this method requires distinguishing between activity and inactivity, and accurate fixes on animal locations. Nevertheless, it is more simple and rapid than others previously reported