Résumé
A first order correlated random walk model, integrating a differential klinokinetic mechanism, was developed to represent a mammal's movements in its home range. For this purpose, the mammal was assumed to move in a radial olfactory gradient field and to use variations in the olfactory stimulus to orient itself during its movements. Computer simulations showed that this olfactory orientation model is able to account for both the stabilization of a mammal's movements within its home range and the maintenance of a radial olfactory gradient field which was postulated by the model. The internal consistency of the model is due to the scent marking behaviour that most mammals exhibit in their home ranges during their movements. The olfactory orientation model thus constitutes the first attempt to explain how a mammal can use its own scent marks to orient itself within its home range, as has been suggested by many authors.