House Mouse
Mus musculus Linnaeus
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Muridae
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.
Environmental Policy
The employees of American Pest Management are committed to improving the quality of life for all of our customers by providing the safest and most effective treatment for the management of pests which pose a threat to their health, property, and food supply. History has shown that neglecting to control pests such as cockroaches, mosquitoes, rodents, and ticks, and the misapplication of pest control products are equally dangerous.
