Observations on the Abundance of Korean Mice

Abstract

The description by Youngman (1956) of populations of mice in abandoned areas in Korea suggests that some previously collected data are worthy of comparison. This report describes some observations on the relative abundance of mice on the hills in which United Nations troops were camped in October and November of 1953. The captures were part of a study of haemorrhagic fever sponsored by the Armed Forces Epidemiological Board. The area had been more or less occupied by troops for several years and since July, 1953, a number of camps had been permanently located in the area. Before the Korean War the area had been intensively cultivated and several thousand people lived in the valley. The local inhabitants abandoned the area during hostilities and their small rice and grain fields developed a prolific growth of weeds. The following plants are abundant. Rosa multiflora and Quercus mongolica provide excellent shelter and food. Several shrubs ( Spirea salicifolia, Rhamnus davurica ) are also important. The legumes ( Lespedeza stipulacea and Glycine soja ) fruit prolifically. Many grasses ( Echinochloa crusgalli, Setaria faberii, Themeda japponica, Phragmites communis and Miscanihus sacchariflorus ) are widely distributed, as well as some sedges. The above list of plants indicates that a superb habitat in terms of food and shelter has developed in the abandoned areas. Methods .—Trap lines were placed at the base (I), on the side (II), and near the top (III) of a hill. Each line consisted of 20 stations placed at 50-foot intervals and having three traps. The lines were parallel and about 100 feet apart. The traps were “museum specials,” baited with plain peanut butter. The traps were visited each morning for three …