Which plants do mice eat? - briefly
Mice commonly feed on grasses, clover, wheat, barley, oats, corn, peas, beans, lettuce, spinach, and various garden herbs. They also consume seeds, sprouts, and young shoots of many cultivated and wild plants.
Which plants do mice eat? - in detail
Mice consume a wide range of vegetation, primarily species that are tender, high in moisture, and readily available in their habitat. Their diet includes grasses, seeds, leaves, stems, and the tender parts of many cultivated and wild plants.
Commonly eaten wild grasses such as ryegrass (Lolium perenne), fescue (Festuca spp.), and bluegrass (Poa spp.) provide both foliage and seed heads. Seed-producing plants are a major component; wheat (Triticum aestivum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), oats (Avena sativa), and corn (Zea mays) are frequently harvested from fields and storage areas. Mice also feed on the young shoots and leaves of broadleaf weeds like lamb’s quarters (Chenopodium album), pigweed (Amaranthus spp.), and dandelion (Taraxacum officinale).
In garden settings, the following cultivated species are regularly targeted:
- Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) – tender leaves
- Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) – soft foliage
- Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) – young leaves and sprouts
- Carrot (Daucus carota) – root tips and seedlings
- Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) – vines and fruit buds
- Peas (Pisum sativum) – pods and seedlings
- Beans (Phaseolus spp.) – pods and seedlings
Herbaceous plants with succulent stems, such as alfalfa (Medicago sativa), clover (Trifolium spp.), and chickweed (Stellaria media), are also preferred, especially during periods when seeds are scarce. Fruit-bearing shrubs and trees are less common but can be consumed when available; mice will nibble on berries, apples, and the soft bark of young saplings.
Seasonal variations influence selection. In spring, seedlings and tender shoots dominate the intake. Summer brings an abundance of seed heads and fruit. Autumn focuses on harvested grain and stored produce, while winter diets shift toward stored grains, dried legumes, and any residual plant material.
Overall, mice demonstrate opportunistic foraging behavior, selecting plant parts that maximize nutritional intake while minimizing effort and exposure to predators.