MOVEMENTS OF FERAL HOUSE MICE IN AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPES

From September 1992 to May 1993 we radio-collared 155 house mice (Mus domesticus) on agricultural fields in southern Queensland to measure m ovements and to determine social organisation. During the breeding sea son most individuals were site-attached and home ranges of both sexes overlapped extensively. There was no sign of exclusive space use for b reeding individuals. Breeding males had home ranges that were larger t han those of breeding females (0.035 ha v. 0.015 ha), and moved about more. After breeding ended, home ranges increased over tenfold in area , and most mice became nomadic and not site-attached.