ASSESSING PERCEPTION OF RISK FOR SMALL MAMMALS FORAGING NEAR DOG URINE IN COASTAL CALIFORNIA

Joel Viorato Arambula; California State University Monterey Bay; vioratoarambula@csumb.edu; Lexi G. Hill, Jennifer M. Duggan, Lexi G Hill

This project builds on previous work investigating the responses of wildlife foraging to the presence of domesticated dog urine in coastal California. In this study, we continued measuring Giving-Up Density (GUD; the density of food remaining in a patch after foraging) for nocturnal small mammals in 19 artificial foraging patches (50 g of sunflower seeds in sand) established in a reserve closed to the public in coastal California. We placed dog urine in scent dispensers next to treatment foraging patches and water next to control patches for three consecutive nights in August 2025. Previous work found higher GUD for nocturnal small mammals foraging in patches near dog urine than near water. Now, with additional sampling, our preliminary results demonstrate the same pattern. Although we had hypothesized that small mammals would perceive domestic dog urine as a direct cue for risk and would reduce foraging near it, our results suggest the scent of domestic dog urine may instead attract the attention of small mammals and lead to increased foraging in its presence. Understanding how the presence of odors left by domestic dogs influences foraging of wildlife will be useful for management of domestic dogs in natural areas throughout coastal California.

Poster Session    Student Paper