10 Interesting Facts About Mice
It can be a frustrating and challenging task to figure out how to get rid of house mice. One way that can help is to learn a little more about these common rodents. Here are a few interesting facts about mice.
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- Mice have a very fast metabolism and need to eat and drink a lot, often as many as 15 to 30 times day. That's why they love our nice, warm houses with plentiful food.
- Mice like to make their homes close to their food sources, seldom venturing more than about 30 to 50 feet away from their nests.
- Despite their small size, mice are extremely adept at climbing, jumping, and swimming, too.
- House mice are very prolific breeders. They can start breeding by around
two months of age, typically have 4 to 7 babies per litter, and can produce
as many as 5 to 10 litters in a single year! Imagine: if one single female
produces 5 babies, 7 times in a year... that's an extra 35 mice! That's
why it's important to get a handle on controlling mice
as soon as you are aware there is a problem.
- Baby mice are born hairless and with their eyes closed. They start taking little trips away from the nest at around 3 weeks of age and also start eating solid food.
- House mice typically live less than one year.
- If you see one mouse, there are usually many more.
- Mice can pass a wide array of diseases and parasites to humans, some minor and some very serious. That's why it's important to properly dispose of any dead mice or their droppings, and to clean and disinfect after the mouse problem has been resolved.
- Most of their senses (hearing, taste, touch, and smell) are excellent, although their vision is poor.
- Mice are nocturnal, wandering around at night and leaving their droppings along the way. They can leave as many as 50 to 80 droppings a day as they explore... another good reason to address a mouse problem as soon as it becomes apparent!
These facts about mice can help to give a better idea of the habits and behavior of the rodent you're trying to control. Several humane pest control methods are available to remove house mice. Once the mice have been removed from the home, homeowners should turn their attentions towards exclusion methods and preventive pest control to stop the mouse problem from happening again.