How long does a field mouse live without food? - briefly
A field mouse generally survives only 2–3 days without any nourishment, with survival decreasing under extreme temperature or stress.
How long does a field mouse live without food? - in detail
Field mice (e.g., Apodemus sylvaticus) normally live 1–2 years in the wild, but their survival without nourishment is far shorter. Metabolic demands of a small rodent require continuous energy intake; when food is unavailable, internal reserves are rapidly depleted.
During the initial 12–24 hours, glycogen stores in the liver and muscles provide glucose. After this period, the animal shifts to lipolysis, breaking down fat deposits for energy. Protein catabolism begins when fat reserves are exhausted, leading to muscle loss and organ dysfunction.
Experimental observations on captive individuals indicate:
- Minimum survival without any intake: approximately 2 days.
- Typical survival window under moderate ambient temperature (15–20 °C): 3–5 days.
- Upper limit recorded in controlled conditions with access to water: up to 7 days.
Key variables influencing this timeframe include:
- Age – juveniles possess limited fat reserves and succumb sooner.
- Body condition – well‑fed adults with higher adiposity endure longer.
- Ambient temperature – colder environments increase metabolic rate, shortening survival; warmer conditions reduce energy expenditure.
- Hydration – water availability extends survival markedly; dehydration can cause death within 24–48 hours even if food is absent.
- Stress and predation risk – elevated cortisol levels accelerate tissue breakdown.
In natural settings, field mice rarely encounter prolonged food scarcity because they forage frequently and store seeds. When faced with temporary deprivation, they may enter brief periods of torpor, lowering body temperature and metabolic rate to conserve energy, which can add a day or two to the survival period.
Overall, a field mouse can persist without nourishment for roughly three to five days under typical outdoor conditions, extending to about a week only when water is present and external stressors are minimal.