Cost-effectiveness of poison bait trails for control of house mice in mallee cereal crops.

Abstract

Damage by house mice (Mus domesticus) to a maturing wheat crop was controlled by laying thin trails of poisoned wheat through the crop. Mouse population densities at treatment were about 70 mice ha-1. Mouse numbers were reduced by 100% within 1 week; at harvest, 9 weeks later, mouse numbers were still reduced by 46% relative to 3 untreated crops. That level of mouse control reduced damage to the crop by more than 808, but treatment was barely cost-effective because of the moderate level of damage in untreated crops and the low wheat prices in that year. Treatment is likely to be costeffective given mouse densities of at least 100 mice ha-1 or higher wheat prices, but cost-effectiveness depends greatly on the cost of rodenticide used.