Distribution of feeding and drinking by groups of captive house mice

Locations of feeding and drinking by social groups of commensal house mice (Mus domesticus), were monitored daily for 30 to 90 minutes for 1 to 3 months. Eighteen foodcups and 18 water bottles were distributed in a 2.4 × 5.1 m population cage. Social groups concentrated their feeding at a few of the foodcups which varied among replicates but drank from most of the water bottles. A mouse feeding at the same sites that are used by others implies that mice use social cues in choosing feeding sites. This is the first documentation of socially influenced choice of feeding sites by wild-caught commensal house mice. A mouse drinking at several sites without concentrating on any sites implies social cues are less important in choosing drinking sites.