New Zealand Mammals

DSC_8538 House mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) lateral view of skull prepared by George Holley. Mice are often overlooked 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. Wellington *

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DSC_8538 House mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) lateral view of skull prepared by George Holley. Mice are often overlooked 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. Wellington *

DSC 8538 House mouse Mus musculus domesticus lateral view skull feral introduced mammalian pest predator