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Pest Library
Size: |
House mouse adult's head+body length is 2.5-3.5 in
(6.5-9 cm); tail length is 2.75-4 in (7-10 cm); weight is 0.5-1 ounce. |
Characteristics: |
Smooth fur; pointed muzzle, small eyes, large ears with some hair;
short and broad feet; dark, scaly semi-naked tail. |
Color: |
Varied, but usually light brown to dusty gray on top, light gray
or cream on belly. |
Droppings: |
Adult droppings are 1/8-1/4 in (3-6 mm) long, and are rod shaped
with pointed ends, but without ridges. |
Geographic Range: |
House mice are probably from central Asia, but now all over the
world and throughout the U.S. |
Comparison with other rodents: |
Adult Norway rat, roof rat and black rat are larger than the house
mouse, with a body+head length of 7-9.5 in (18-25 cm) and weigh 7-18
ounces or more. Young Norway rat, roof rat and black rat have head
and feet that are extra large for body size. Deer mouse and white-footed
mouse have tails that are tawny brown above, white below. Most other
native rats and mice have hairy tails, or if not, their tails appear
to be made of ring-like segments. |
Habitat: |
Dark, secluded places with little disturbance and plenty of nesting
material, such as paper, fabric, insulation, packing materials, cotton. |
Food: |
House mice eat many kinds of food, but especially seeds. Main feedings
are at dawn and dusk. They get moisture from their food, but will
take water also, especially when eating protein. They prefer sweet
liquids. |
Biology: |
Mice are social. Related male and female house mice are compatible,
but unrelated males are aggressive. Small sized territories, marked
with urine, are maintained by a dominant male, with lower-ranking
males and females. Mature house mice are aggressive towards strangers
of either sex. They mature in 35 days, and live about 1 year, but
can survive to 6 years. Pregnancy takes 18-21 days, with 5-8 young
per litter, 8 litters per year, and 30-35 mice are weaned per year.
A female can have a litter every 40-50 days, so more than 1 litter
may be in the nest at a time. They see clearly only 6 inches ahead,
and are color blind. They climb, run up rough walls and along pipes,
ropes, and wires, jump 12 inches high and down from 8 feet, and sometimes
swim. They can survive in 14 degrees F (-10 C). |
Invasion: |
An opening larger than 1/4 in (6mm) permits a house mouse to enter
a structure. |
Damage: |
The house mouse gnaws objects, eats and contaminates stored food,
and transmits disease by droppings, urine, bites, and direct contact,
or contact with cats, fleas, mites. |
Detection: |
- Droppings indicate a feeding place.
- Front 4-toed print is in front of 5-toed hindprint.
- Rub marks are smaller than rats' rub marks.
- Active runways are free of cobwebs and dust.
- Fresh droppings are soft and moist. New gnawings are rough.
- They burrow in insulation.
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