By an enclosure experiment we tested whether natal dispersing root voles Microtus oeconomus (Pallas, 1776) were prevented from colonising already occupied habitat patches or if they were attracted to habitat patches by potential mates. The treatment consisted of manipulating the presence of animals in immigration patches, either with the presence of a solitary sexually mature male or female, whereas empty patches were used as a control. Immigration patches were separated from a patch used for release of a matriline (mother with her newly weaned titter) by a semipermeable fence allowing only interpatch movements of young animals. We predicted that either a social fence would prevent immigration to treatment patches, or that potential mates would attract dispersing individuals. In particular we expected fewer dispersing males to colonise male occupied patches, and fewer dispersing females to colonise female occupied patches due to intrasexual competition, ie an intrasexual social fence. We found that a higher proportion of females settled in male treatment patches than in female patches, whereas male dispersal was unaffected by treatment. Thus, the observed female immigration pattern appeared to be an attraction to patches occupied by the opposite sex We found no sign that immigration was prevented by a social fence.
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