THE RELATIVE EFFICIENCY OF 2 COMMERCIAL LIVE-TRAPS FOR SMALL MAMMALS

Data obtained from live-trapping a population of field voles, Microtus agrestis, over a seven-month period was used to compare the trapping efficiencies of the Longworth and the Ugglan Mouse Special traps. The Ugglan mouse Special is a cheaper alternative that is widely used in S candinavia. Biases in the sex or age of captured animals were the same for both types of trap and the total numbers of captures were similar . There was no evidence that individual animals a ere more likely to b e captured in the same type of trap at each capture session. We conclu de that the Ugglan Mouse Special trap is a practical alternative to th e Longworth trap for studies of small mammals by capture-mark-recaptur e techniques.