What primarily influences a rat's home range when foraging?

The primary factor influencing a rat's home range when foraging is the abundance or scarcity of food and shelter. Rats are opportunistic feeders and will adjust their foraging behavior based on the availability of resources in their environment. When food is plentiful, a rat may establish a larger home range to take advantage of various food sources. Conversely, if food is scarce, it may remain close to a reliable food source, resulting in a smaller home range.

While the availability of shelter is important, it is often considered in conjunction with food availability, as a well-supplied area with abundant food is likely to also offer adequate shelter. The presence of other animals can influence competition and territorial behavior, but the fundamental driver of foraging behavior remains resource availability. The size of the nest is less relevant when considering the foraging range since it does not directly correlate with food or shelter availability in the broader environment. Therefore, the abundance or scarcity of food and shelter stands out as the primary influence on a rat’s foraging home range.