Facts About House Mice
What is known about house mice? There are numerous species of these small rodents. They usually live in close proximity to humans such as in or around homes, barns or fields. They are originally natives to Asia and India and have spread to the entire planet, especially in densely populated areas.
Mice usually stand, walk or run on all fours; however, when they fight, eat or look around, they usually stand only on their hind legs while being supported by the tail. Mice are very good climbers, jumpers and swimmers. Usually a more nocturnal animal, mice are active mostly at night and cannot tolerate bright lighting well. They will live in hidden places near sources of food, such as behind furniture, in pantries and under or behind kitchen appliances. Attics, crawl spaces and basements are other areas where mice tend to nest.
House mice will eat just about anything, though they do prefer organic plant matter. They require very little water and rely mainly on the moisture in food to sustain them. Mice will also eat their own feces in order to obtain the nutrients that are produced by bacteria that live in mice intestines.
What about House Mice and Diseases?
Mice do transmit diseases, some of which can be deadly. House mice have been known to carry diseases such as: Rickettsialpox, Murine Typhus, Bubonic Plague, and Tularemia. Wild house mice can also carry and transmit rabies. Many times these diseases are transmitted to humans through anything in the home that mice have contaminated, but most often diseases are spread by mice contaminating the food supply.
Mice are considered to be an invasive species due in part because they are such prolific breeders. Female mice can have up to 10 litters each year. Litter size can range from 4 to 16 babies with an average of 6 to 8 per litter. In one year’s time a female mouse can have between 40 and 160 babies, and each of those babies that are female will begin to copulate at 6 weeks old. An infestation of house mice can occur quite quickly.
Mice Extermination Options
Throughout history people have been looking for ways to rid themselves of house mice infestations. Of course the typical courses of action are available such as: house cats, mouse traps, poison and calling an mouse exterminator. There are lesser known options that are much less caustic such as: black lighting, strobe lights and vanilla or strawberry scents such as in candles.
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