House Mouse (Mus musculus)
I. Identification
- Small light brownish-gray rodent with large ears, dark eyes and naked tail.
II. Feeding
- Prefers cereal grain, but will "nibble" many different foods.
III. Reproduction
- In single year, female can have 5-10 litters of 5-6 young.
IV. Control
- Always keep spilled foods cleaned up.
V. Important Points
- Mice are curious and will investigate changes to their environment.
- Weighing about 1/2 ounce and measuring 5-7" long (including tail).
- Droppings, gnawing and tracks indicate activity.
- Nesting constructed from fine shredded paper or fibrous material, located in sheltered places.
- Manifests nocturnal habits, but can be seen in daylight when infestations are high.
- Keen sense of hearing, touch and smell.
- Excellent climbers and swimmers.
- Enters houses in fall when food supplies of seeds are scarce. Mice can enter through an opening 1/4" across.
- Young born 19-21 days after mating and are reproductive in 6-10 weeks.
- Eliminate hiding places and clutter.
- "Build out" all entry areas around doors, pipes, vents, foundations, etc. 1/4" or larger using steel wool, metal, wire mesh or concrete.
- Cover edges of doors and windows with metal to prevent gnawing.
- Snap traps, live traps and glue boards.
- Place traps horizontal to walls in areas of activity (rarely venture more than 30' from nest).
- Place traps no more than 10' apart.
- Baits are anticoagulants where death often occurs in hiden areas (odor issue).
- Consider the nature of the contract when selecting control measures.
- Client needs to be proactive for control measures to be successful.
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