DSC_0248 House mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) family emerging to feed on beech forest floor. In a 'beech masting' year, mouse litter size may be as high as twenty young per nest. In major masting years mouse populations may experience a ten-fold increase in density in beech forests. An increased abundance of rodents at such times also drives up numbers of other introduced predators such as stoats and weasels. Waikaia Bush *
11002-16115 House mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) female with a large litter during a major beech 'masting' year. In major masting years mouse populations may experience a ten-fold increase in density in beech forests, and it is this increased abundances of rodents which also drives up numbers of other introduced predators such as stoats and weasels. Tutoko High Bench, Fiordland *
DSC_1721 House mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) adult feeding on dead Southern grass skink. During a 'masting' year mouse litter sizes may reach as high as twenty young per nest, and mouse populations may experience a ten-fold increase in density in beech forests, tussock grasslands and other areas. An increased abundance of rodents at such times brings increased predation on native lizards and invertebrates, and also drives up numbers of other introduced predators such as stoats and weasels, which feed on mice. Otago Peninsula *
