What is House Mouse?

The house mouse is a common pest entering many homes and offices yearly. This species reproduces quickly, survives on little food and water, and enters properties through tiny openings. Once indoors, they live in cluttered spaces where they can easily find food and nesting material.

House mice don’t just damage your property but also contaminate food and transmit diseases through their droppings and urine. In addition, they can be problematic for people with asthma as they can trigger attacks and allergic reactions. 

Identification

House mice have dusty grey bodies with cream-coloured bellies. The fur colour of these pests varies from light brown to dark grey, depending on their location. They have a round-shaped body, about 2.5 to 3.75 inches long. Their tails measure 2.75 to 4 inches in length.

Life Cycle

The gestation period for these pests lasts from 18 to 21 days. Each female mouse can produce a litter every 30 to 50 days. Litter ranges from 2 to 13 mice, and the average is 5 to 6 per litter. House mice reach sexual maturity at 6 to 10 weeks.

When a house mouse is born, it has no fur, vision, or ears. The mother mouse nurses her litter for about 21 days. On day four, the little ones’ ears emerge and develop; on day six, they get their fur which grows entirely by day 10. The babies open their eyes on day 13 or 14, and on day 21, the mother weans her young.

Once these young creatures are weaned, they can explore the home and find things to eat. Next, the male mice in the litter get into their territory, while the females live with their mothers for some time. Finally, when the female mice turn six weeks old, they mate and have their babies.

Eating Habits & Habitat

Though house mice like to eat cereals and seeds, they also eat insects, nuts, and fruits. Once indoors, they can consume almost any human food. These creatures are primarily found in urban areas.

Though they prefer living indoors, they can also survive outdoors. When inside, they prefer living in secluded parts of buildings, ground cracks, shallow burrow systems, and reed beds.

Signs of an Infestation

Below are some signs of house mice infestation:

  • You may see rough or smooth gnaw marks on your property
  • There are chances of finding soft and moist or dried and hard droppings that measure about 1/8-1/4 inch long. Their droppings are rod-shaped and have pointed edges
  • House mice may leave oily rub marks on walls
  • They may burrow using nesting materials like insulation
  • If the infestation is large, your property may smell of their urine
  • You may spot damaged goods in your kitchen

High-Quality Pest Removal Services

Tom’s Pest Control offers high-quality pest removal services for residential and commercial properties. Our experienced technicians are committed to delivering safe and effective solutions for all your pest control needs.

We specialise in offering house mice removal services at affordable prices. Our technicians will assess the severity of your infestation problem and apply appropriate methods to rid your property of unwanted pests. We use industry-leading products to ensure that our services are as effective and safe for you and your family.

Contact Us

Get in touch with us to discuss your rodent removal needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Do House Mice Eat?

House mice are omnivores and can live upon various things like seeds, plant roots, leaves, and stems. They supplement this diet with insects like cockroaches, beetle larvae, and caterpillars. House mice found in urban areas are often seen sharing a human diet. These pests eat as often as 15-20 times a day.

How to Identify a House Mouse?

A house mouse is grey brown with large ears, a pointed nose and a long, scaly tail. You will likely find these pests in warehouses, farm buildings, sheds, and garages.

What is the Lifespan of House Mice?

House mice living in the sanctuary of a home have an average lifespan of about two years. Outdoor mice only live for a year. When inside a home, house mice can cause plenty of damage to your property by breeding constantly.