"Mice in Forests" working group meets at LWF in Freising

The "Mice in Forests" working group met on March 25 and 26, 2026 as part of its spring meeting at the Bavarian State Institute of Forestry and Forest Economics in Freising. Experts from research, administration and practice used the two-day event to discuss current developments in mouse monitoring, regional population dynamics and future opportunities for cooperation.

The first day focused on state reports from Saxony, Thuringia, Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria. They highlighted the strong regional variation in mouse populations, which are significantly influenced by weather conditions, habitat structure and land use. The further development of monitoring methods and the establishment of reliable forecasting models were highlighted as a key challenge in order to identify and prevent potential damage to forest regeneration at an early stage. In addition, current research contributions offered insights into methodological progress, particularly with regard to standardized recording methods and the comparability of data between the federal states.

The second day was dedicated to practice-oriented topics such as a joint study and organizational issues of the working group. Overall, the conference underlined the great importance of a continuous professional exchange in dealing with mouse populations - especially against the background of growing challenges in forest and agricultural management. A continuation of this exchange is already being planned.