The house mouse can be a real problem. Even though we don’t usually see mice with the same revulsion that we have for rats, both species do damage to the home and are able to spread potentially serious diseases. In this article, we’re going to go over some commonly asked questions about the house mouse in order to help you better understand and control this pest.
How Can I Tell if I Have an Infestation?
When you have a house mouse infestation, you will start to see several signs popping up. The most obvious of course is seeing a live mouse running about, but this will only happen when the mouse population is already fairly large. Early on during the infestation, you might start to notice a stale, rank or musty odor – the house mouse is an odorous creature. You might also see gnaw and scratch marks on the walls and floors, grease and urine marks on the floors and carpets, and droppings.
Is It a Mouse or a Rat?
The main difference between mice and rats is their size, with rats being much larger than mice. Mice also have a more compact body and a longer tail. A house mouse will usually reach 7.5 inches in length, tail included, while rats can grow up to 16 inches.
What Does a House Mouse Eat?
The house mouse is an omnivorous animal, meaning that it will eat almost anything, but it does prefer to eat grains, plants, pet food, and peanut butter. You can use any of these foods to bait your traps.
How Long Do Mice Live?
Mice have a lot of predators out in the wild, which means that they rarely survive for more than a year. However, when they enter indoors, they not only find safety, but they also have shelter, plenty of food, and access to water sources, and this allows them to live for up to three years.
Where Do You Place Mouse Traps?
Mice traps should be placed in areas where you suspect that there may be mouse activity, areas where you have seen urine stains, droppings, grease markings, gnaw marks, and others. Mice will avoid the traps at first, but after a day or two, it will become a normal part of their environment, and eventually they will approach the bait.
If you still have questions, or if you have a house mouse infestation, contact us today and we will help you out.