Habitat Preference and Reproduction of Feral House Mice, Mus musculus, during Plague and Non-Plague Situations in Western Australia

Abstract

In Western Australia feral Mus musculus are well established in the southern half of the State, including remote, arid desert situations. In the South West Division Mus have a distinct spring-summer breeding period, with some breeding in autumn after favourable climatic conditions. A plague in autumn 1975 is described and abundance, fecundity, trapping behaviour and habitat selection are compared between plague and non-plague situations. It is considered that abundant rainfall during the two preceding years caused the plague. Decline of the plague coincided with the onset of winter; there is some evidence to suggest that shelter more than food limited numbers, but the decline was probably also influenced by intrinsic factors. In wheatbelt areas of Western Australia Mus are most abundant in samphire heaths.