The population ecology and management of the house mouse, Mus domesticus Rutty, in egg-layer poultry houses
Abstract
The house mouse, Mus domesticus is perhaps the most significant economic pest of egg-layer poultry houses. A survey of 161 Indiana poultry professionals resulted in 88.5% identifying mice present in their facilities. This study investigated population size, distribution, sex ratios, age classes, and the reproductive profile of house mice in shallow-pit egg layer facilities. Trap-outs of the mice from three different layer houses produced a mean population size of 2032 mice. The population distributions were unrelated to directional or spatial sections of the house with low and high density clusters ranging from 2.3 mice/m$\sp2$ to 5.1 mice /m$\sp2$, respectively. High-density clusters of mice also occurred in response to areas providing excess food. Video taping and trap-outs of the mouse population demonstrated restricted foraging ranges of only a several square meters, with many mice foraging within 2m$\sp2$. More males (56.8%) than females were captured from the 1393 mice removed from the EB population. The juveniles and sub-adults combined represented 57% of the entire layer house population, profiling a growing population. The maximal weights of 31.0 g (males) and 36.5 g (female) attained for the poultry house mice are heavier than those previously reported by mammalogists for feral populations of this species in Indiana. The population exhibited continuous breeding over the three seasons of this study, although indices relating to sexual maturity and breeding were highest during the spring season and lowest during the late autumn. An evaluation of a site-specific baiting strategy utilizing a self-feeding PVC rodenticide bait station containing a second generation anticoagulant in conjunction with a time-pulse baiting program was investigated in four egg-layer houses. Mean population reductions of 43.0%, 54.4% and 52.9% were recorded for first, second, and third pass application rates respectively. Additional research is needed to determine if this method when modified by increasing the number of stations, targeting high density clusters, and decreasing the pulse intervals would provide greater population reduction.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Williams, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Ecology|Livestock|Zoology
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