House Mouse
Physical Features
Body 2-4 inches in length, equally long tail, moderately sized ears, grayish-brown with a gray or buff belly, and normally weigh .5 to 1 ounce.
Life Cycle
Live Young
Mice may breed year round indoors producing 5-10 litters compared to outdoors where they breed less often. After an 18 to 21 day gestation period, the female delivers a litter of 2-13 young. The young are naked and have their eyes closed. After 2 weeks, they are covered with fur and their eyes and ears are open. They begin to make short trips from the nest foraging for food. At 6-10 weeks they are sexually mature. The nest is often shared. Mice will travel 10-30 feet or more from their nest when searching for food or water. They can live long periods without water obtaining water from their food sources.
Habits
- Diet: Seeds. They are erratic feeders taking small bits at a time from different areas. Consume about 10% of their body weight per day.
- Activity: Nocturnal especially the time following sunset and prior to sunup.
- Preferred Climate: Depends on species but prefer constant temperatures found indoors.
- Defense: Speed and size. Rely on smells and pheromones.
- Cautions: Rapidly reproduces
- Home Invasion: House mice will nest in secluded areas within a structure or in the ground near structures or food sites.
Helpful Hints for Control
- Thorough sanitation practices to eliminate food sources
- Recommend regular pest control service plan.
Interesting Fact
Mice detect new items placed in their pathways, but unlike rats, they do not shy away from these items.
