DSC_8404 House mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) young female emerging from nest in garden shed. At this young age it's difficult to think of mice as predators, but mouse numbers increase in many areas in summer when pasture grasses seed, providing an abundance of food. Mice are significant predators of insects, especially beetles and caterpillars, as well as small reptiles, and the eggs and young of small birds. Otago Peninsula *
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 *
