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• House Mouse

Mus domesticus

The house mouse (also referred to as a field mouse) originated in Eastern Asia in arid grasslands. Due to their origin the house mouse evolved with the ability to survive without needing frequent water as most other rodents do. Currently, this mouse can be found throughout the world.

An adult house mouse is usually no more than 7 inches long from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail and weighs 2/5 to 4/5 ounces. They have extremely poor eyesight beyond about 6 inches and are considered colorblind. Because of this they rely heavily on other senses such as smell, taste, and touch; and prefer to remain against vertical surfaces. They are gray-brown in color, with a slightly lighter gray abdomen; have a somewhat pointed nose; small black protruding eyes; sparse hair on the ears and a tail with no hair which appears to have a scaled, ringed appearance.

These mice are nibblers. They will consume small quantities of food over many feedings each day. Favorite foods are high in fats, proteins or sugars and can include sweets, nuts, dried fruits and grains, but they are not considered picky eaters.

The lifespan of a house mouse is approximately 2 to 3 years. They are considered quite prolific breeders. Each female can produce 8 to 10 litters, averaging 5 to 8 young per litter (litters can be considerably larger) and gestation is as short 3 weeks. By the age of two months, they are mature enough to reproduce.

House mice tend to go in search of shelter and food as fall approaches and temperatures drop. This can end up driving the mouse into or under a home structure if there are access points. Access points can be any gap or opening as small as 1/4 inch in size. Nests are usually 'ball' shaped and constructed of fibrous materials loosely woven together. Nests are usually 4-6 inches in diameter. House mice will generally remain within 10 to 30 feet of the nest, rarely traveling any farther in search of food and water. When water is not readily available, their bodies get the necessary fluids from the foods they eat.

Signs of infestation can include: gnaw marks, droppings (1/8-1/4 inch), tracks or footprints, rub marks and burrows or runways.

Important preventative measures include:

1. Removal of food sources.
2. Removal of waste piles, packing boxes, wood piles, or anything that could be considered a "harborage site".
3. Securely seal cracks, gaps, and openings around doors, window frames, foundations, and siding - keeping in mind that any such areas 1/4 inch or larger is considered a point of access.

While there are many "self-treat" methods available such as traps and rodent bait or poisons, we strongly recommend no baits or poisons are used unless any interior infestation has been eliminated and access points repaired. Because baits and poisons are very fast acting, rodents may not be able to find an exit point before expiring which can lead to severe odor problems. We recommend these products be used only on the exterior of the home.

If populations remain in excess then a call to Long Pest Control can develop an Integrated Pest Control program to eliminate the sightings and provide control of unwanted rodents year round.