Territorial Behavior of Eastern Chipmunks (Tamias Striatus): Encounter Avoidance and Spatial Time‐Sharing

The structure and dynamics of chipmunk home ranges were characterized by focal—animal observation. Neighboring animals were territorial, but their home ranges overlapped extensively and did not have exclusive core areas. Established neighbors avoided encountering each other. Their pattern of encounter avoidance with extensive spatial overlap resulted in spatial time—sharing. Territorial interference with the timing of space—use did not affect the total utilization of shared areas within a resident's home range. Distance and patch structure were important proximate determinants of space—use intensity. The result suggest that territorial interference is more important as a mechanism for deterring the immigration of nonneighbors than as a continuously operative competitive mechanism between established neighbors. The concept than the proximate object of interference competition is access to space is questioned.