Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference

To achieve successful control of an infestation of house mice, one must attempt to interpret the behavior of mice and mouse population, which can differ among locations and circumstances. Using wooden pallets and a combination of sacked grains and corncobs, two arenas were constructed into which first-generation laboratory-reared wild house mice were introduced and observed over a period of 6 months. Social behavior, individual behavior, and population characteristics of the mice were described. The arenas were subsequently used to test mouse behavior in regard to live traps, new foods as potential toxic carriers or trap baits, and to test toxic bait. Conclusions about mouse behavior under different lighting conditions, population density, changes in the physical environment, temperature, and changes in food type as related to control efficacy, are provided.