House Mouse
Mice are often seen as one of the most common pests in Charlotte County, bringing with them numerous diseases and parasites. Houses mice act as carriers of more than 35 pathogens that can be harmful to human beings including Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli, Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis, Tularemia, and the plague. These diseases can cause skin infections, food poisoning, respiratory issues, and a wide range of other illnesses.
Mice will eat almost anything when finding themselves in a new environment where food sources are scarce. They will go through walls to find appliances such as refrigerators and dishwashers that may contain crumbs of food. Mice also contaminate with their urine and feces, leading to dangerous diseases that humans contract through contact in the home or in public places.
House Mouse
House Mouse Appearance
House Mice are about 7 to 10 cm long, not including the tail. Their tails are generally as long as their body or longer. Mice can be distinguished from rats by their small size and lack of a naked, scaly tail. House mice also have large ears for detecting noise over large distances.
Mice are typically brown with a greyish tint. They have a white belly and grey/brown back with a light brown shade running down their sides from the base of the head to the base of their tail. Mice also have small feet that may be covered in fur or scales but are always covered with dark pads on top that provide traction for running along walls and up the glass.
House Mouse Life Cycle
Mice can enter houses any time of year, but most commonly find their way in during the colder seasons when food is scarce outside. Female mice can breed up to 5 times a year having on average 20-30 young per litter. The gestation period averages 21 days for house mice. Young are born blind and without fur and are not weaned from their mother until about 18 days.
Mice do not survive well in the wild as they have a very short life span of only around 9 months. In homes, mice live on average 1-2 years due to abundant food sources and protection from larger predators.
Contact Us
If you find any House Mouse in your Charlotte County home, contact Bug Off Pest Charlotte immediately. We can help rid you of these garden pests and get your lawn or yard back to normal! As always, we are happy to answer any questions you may have about House Mouse or any other pest. Call us today 941-676-2005
