Family Structure
- Prolific breeders, producing 6-10 litters continuously throughout the year
Where Found
- Worldwide
Habitat
- Well-adapted for living year-round in homes, food establishments and other structures
- Once established, they can be extremely difficult to control
Diet
- Feed on a wide variety of food; prefer seeds and cereal grains
- Fond of foods high in fat and protein such as nuts, bacon, butter and sweets (good to know when selecting bait for traps)
- Mice are “nibblers” and may visit food sites 20 to 30 each night
Characteristics
Most people think mice are less dangerous than rats; however, the truth is, more people will find a mouse in their home than a rat.
- More food is lost to the contamination mice leave behind than to how much they eat.
- Many household items have to be thrown out after being contaminated by mouse urine and droppings.
- Many large appliances are lost to mice gnawing through electrical wiring, causing fires and appliance failures.
- Many diseases (e.g. salmonella) are transmitted when food is contaminated with infected rodent feces.
- Mice roam at night. The most obvious evidence they were there are the droppings they leave behind (about 1/8” to 1/2″ long, dark color, pointed at both ends), or damage to stored food or materials they take to build their nests. You can also hear them running, chewing, and squeaking if you are awake at night.
Trapping Mice
Mice only roam short distances away from their nests (maybe 10 to 25 feet). As long as they have food and shelter, they may only travel a few feet. In order to trap them, devices must be placed where their activity is most obvious (follow the droppings). Mice travel close to walls and other edges, so be sure to place traps along the walls. Mice are curious fellows and will check out all new objects placed in their pathway. Don’t get discouraged. If you don’t catch them one night, move the trap to another location where you have seen evidence of activity. You will eventually catch them.
Contact Us
Contact us for help with a problem with House Mice. You may also call either our Central Coast office or our Ventura County office.
