Food Preference Behavior of Field Rodents in Natural Environments

Abstract

Rodents consumed. in variable amounts, all the eight foods offered to them in b~it boxes in multiple choice in all the three natural habitats. This points towards their neophilic behavior to the baits and bait boxes. Food preference behavior of rodents in natural environment indicated that cracked wheat was the most preferred and acceptable bait in all the three habitats, Le., paddy fields, wheat fields and waste lands. Wheat flour, wheat flour+oil+gur and pearl millet grains were almost equally consumed by rodents and these were the next in preference after cracked wheat in these habitats. Maize grains were the least favored of all the eight food items offered in hait boxes in multiple choice.