Presence of conspecific odours enhances responses of commensal house mice (Mus musculus) to bait stations
Abstract
Behavioural responses to bait stations may affect the acceptance of baits. We studied the effect of mouse odour on the number of entries into and time spent within bait stations under seminatural conditions.
Commensal house mice were allowed to choose between two identical bait stations, one of which was scented with a conspecific odour. The donors of the odours were socially experienced or inexperienced male and female mice.
The results showed that house mice preferred scented bait stations over non-scented controls. This preference was not significantly affected either by sex of the tested mice or by sex and/or experience of the scent donor.
Nevertheless, the preference was especially apparent in males allowed to enter bait stations scented with the odour of adult, sexually- and socially-experienced conspecifics. In conclusion, our results show that not only the bait station itself, but also accompanying social odours, attract house mice, and thus may considerably enhance the effectiveness of baits.