1977/06/01 by F.P. Rowe, T. Swinney
paper · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2338.1977.tb02742.x
ABSTRACT Live‐capture/recapture data on house mice caught in buildings on a single farm in England over a 1‐year period showed that the populations were essentially unstable, being characterized by constant changes in size and composition. Less than 50% of the mice were recovered 8 weeks after they had been first captured. Although there was considerable individual variation in the movements of male and of female mice within particular buildings, movement between isolated populations was rare (6/439 animals; 1.4%). The house mouse was also found to be present in hedgerows near and distant to the farm buildings, albeit in low number. Movements of out‐door living mice into farm buildings were not extensive, but could be important in relation to the re‐invasion of cleared premises. The most abundant small rodent in the hedgerows was found to be Apodemus sylvaticus (L.).