A landscape of intergroup conflict shapes den site choice in banded mongooses
Daniel W. E. Sankey, Tommy Collins, Darren Paul Croft, Francis Mwanguhya, Dan W. Franks, Patrick A. Green, Kingsley L Hunt, Rufus A. Johnstone, Elizabeth Preston, Faye J. Thompson, Michael A. Cant
This study shows that banded mongooses choose den sites based on the potential risks and rewards of intergroup conflict, with non-babysitting groups taking greater risks by denning near rival territories.
bioRxiv · Sep 23, 2025 · PreprintAnimal Behavior & Cognition