General Information

• Size: From 2.5 to 3.75 inches long.
• Color: Light brown, gray, or black.

Mice are common pests found invading homes throughout the U.S. Most people who are struggling with mice problems are dealing with house mice, although deer mice periodically come indoors. Learn what the common characteristics and behaviors of mice are and what you should do if you’re dealing with them in your own home.

What Are Mice?

Mice, which can come in a variety of types and sizes, are small rodents that are known for being one of the most resilient animals in the world. They are primarily nocturnal and have poor eyesight. However, they more than make up for their lack of sight with their other senses. They are closely related to the rat, although they’re smaller and occupy different outdoor niches. The term “mice” covers over 1,000 different species of mice, but the term is commonly used for small Muroid rodents.

Mice will eat insects, fruit, and nuts, although they prefer eating seeds and cereal. That said, while they prefer grain-based products, they’ll eat almost any type of human food.

What Do Mice Look Like?

Mice are small rodents that have a pointed nose and a slightly hairy, scaly tail that’s usually the length of their body, typically between 2.74 and 4 inches long. Their ears are usually large for their bodies and have some hair. They are usually light brown or dusty gray and have cream-colored bellies. House mice vary somewhat in size and are often between 2.5 inches to 3.7 inches long.

Where Do Mice Live?

Mice live in different types of habitats depending on the species. Field mice generally live in meadows and fields that have light brush. Deer mice, on the other hand, prefer to live in wooded areas that have dense shrubbery. The most common type of mouse that people have to deal with is appropriately named the common house mouse. House mice prefer to live around and inside houses, making their homes inside basements, in walls, attics, sheds, cabinets, warehouses, barns, and other similar locations. They generally prefer to build their nests within 30 to 50 feet of water.

Problems With Mice

House mice can pose a serious threat to human health. Mice sometimes carry diseases, and they can even contaminate stored food in the home if they get into it. Rodents like mice can also carry the hantavirus, which can cause fever, muscle aches, chills, nausea, and abdominal pain, among other symptoms. The virus is extremely dangerous and can be fatal.

In addition, mice have been known to spread salmonella, making people sick if they consume the food that’s been contaminated. While it’s uncommon, they can also spread the infectious rat-bite fever disease, which causes muscle pain, fever, headache, vomiting, and rash.

The droplets of urine that mice leave behind can cause allergies in children. If people inhale dust that contains mouse feces, it can cause flare-ups of asthma and allergies. Unfortunately, the problems don’t end there. Mice can bring lice, mites, fleas, and ticks into the home. If you are seeing signs that you might have a mouse infestation, it’s important to take action to remove them from your home.

Mice Control Solutions

Getting rid of mice isn’t necessarily easy once they’ve invaded your home. Start by inspecting the outside of your house to find places where a mouse could have squeezed through, and use steel wool and caulk to plug holes. Next, set traps around the house. You can choose between spring-loaded or sticky traps.

Place them perpendicular to a wall so that they form a T in areas where you notice mouse activity, such as dark cabinets or behind furniture. Once the traps are in place, you can lure them in with bait. While cheese is, naturally, an option, other options could include maple syrup, bacon, or peanut butter.

If that doesn’t appear to be working, contact a professional. Exterminators specialize in dealing with mouse infestations, and considering the risk to your health and the health of your family, you don’t want to wait too long.

Common Questions About Mice

What Are the Signs My House is Infested?

While you may not see them since mice are nocturnal, there are some common signs that you have a mice infestation, including:

• Gnaw marks: You may notice smooth or rough gnaw marks.
• Droppings: This is one of the most common signs that you have a mouse problem. Mouse droppings measure 1/8 to 1/4th inch in length and are rod-shaped with pointed ends.
• Runways: If you have mice running around at night, you may see runways, since they often use the same paths. Some of the telltale signs of their pathways are dropping, footprints, or rub marks.
• Damaged goods: If you notice that holes have been chewed in boxes of cereal or containers of seeds, you definitely have a mouse problem.
• Odor: Mice have strong-smelling urine that they use as a form of communication with one another.
• Burrows: Mice use insulation, lint, string, and other materials to make nests. If you come across a nest in your house, it’s a sure sign that you have mice in your house.

Do Mice Avoid Humans?

A mouse will typically avoid human contact and run away if they can to avoid you.

How Do You Know If It’s a Mouse or Rat?

While mice and rats do look very similar, mice have slightly hairier tails with a more triangular-shaped nose. Rats have a thicker tail that’s hairless and scaly, and their nose is more rounded and blunt. Rats also tend to be much large in size. Both of them, however, carry diseases, so it’s important to take swift action if you think you might have either in your home.

Regardless of whether you think you have house mice, deer mice, or even a rat inside your home, it’s important to react quickly if you see any of the signs that they’ve moved in. For professional help with evicting rodents, contact a professional right away.