Species: Musmusculus
Mice are very prolific rodents, developing colonies of 200 specimens within just four to five months. Mice are capable of reproduction at an early age and breed continuously, regardless of season. Mice young are blind, deaf and hairless for the first three days following birth. For mice with dark adult coloration, pigmentation of the skin begins on the third day. Within five to seven days, fur begins to grow and the ears become receptive. Eyes open between days 10 and 14, at which point young mice become mobile and begin to feed on solid foods. Between days 12 and 24, babies enter what is known as the flea stage, during which time they are extremely skittish and jumpy. In 21 to 28 days, babies wean from their mother's milk. They reach maturity between days 28 and 35 and are then capable of reproduction
The house mouse (Mus musculus) is a small rodent, a Mouse one of the most numerous species of the genus As a wild animal the house mouse mainly lives associated with humans, causing damage to crops and stored food. The house mouse has been domesticated as the pet or fancy mouse, and as the laboratory mouse which is one of the most important model organisms in biology and medicine. It is by far the most commonly used genetically altered laboratory mammal House mice have an adult body length (nose to base of tail) of 7.5–10 cm (3.0–3.9 in) and a tail length of 5–10 cm (2.0–3.9 in). The weight is typically 10–25 g (0.4–0.9 oz). They vary in colour from white to grey, and light brown to black. They have short hair and a light belly. The ears and tail have little hair. The hind feet are short compared to Apodemus mice, only 15–19 mm (0.59–0.75 in) long; the normal gait is a run with a stride of about 4.5 cm (1.8 in), though they can jump up to 45 cm (18 in). The droppings are blackish, about 3 mm (0.12 in) long, and have a strong musty smell. The voice is a high-pitched squeak. House mice thrive under a variety of conditions: they are found in and around homes and commercial structures as well as in open fields and agricultural lands. House mice consume and contaminate food, pet food and animal feed. In addition, they often cause considerable agricultural and property damage. They also transmit disease-causing pathogens and parasites. The order of Rodentia is comprised of all mammal sizes. From the very smallest rodent, the pygmy jerboa (Salpingotus crassicauda) who weighs in at a mere 0.5 - 0.7 ounces to the largest rodent, the capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) can weigh as much as 175 pounds.
The house mouse originally from Asia, spread through Europe. The name rodent comes from the Greek word rodentsha, to gnaw. Mice do not only damage materials by gnawing, but eat and contaminate large amounts of stored foods and grains. Mice are also responsible for cases of salmonella, a cause of food poisoning contracted from droppings, which makes their presence a human health concern. Tapeworms are another transmittable organism transmitted through droppings. The house mouse lives outside in fields and pastures, but as the name implies, likes living in homes and buildings where people live. An adult mouse is grayish-brown on top, and light gray or cream on belly. These colors can vary depending on area, location and living habits. A house mouse weighs 1/2 to 1oz (12 to 30 grams), body length is 2 ½-3 ½”, tail 2 ¾-4”. The house mouse has large ears that stick out from head, a pointy nose, small eyes, and a upright tail that is longer then the body. The droppings of a house mouse are 1/8 to 1/4 inch long and pointy. Each mouse produces 40 to 100 droppings and 3000 micro drops of urine daily. The urine protein of a mouse can trigger of asthma in people and last for up to two weeks.
Life Cycle
The gestation period for a house mouse is 18-21 days. Mice are born blind and hairless. Sexual maturity is reached in 35 days. The female will average 8 litters per year, each litter averaging 5 to 8 pups. 24-48 hours after giving birth the female again is in heat.
Life span: 1-1/2 to 3 years. 2 years being the average. (wild mice live longer.. around 5 years in captivity, though only around 6 months in the wild due to predators and environmental factors).
Maturity: 4 - 8 weeks of age, varying from line to line and mouse to mouse. This is the time that males and females can become fertile. However, note that a female can die if she conceives that young.
Females estrus (heat) cycle: Every 4 to 5 days all year round until becoming pregnant. Sometimes estrus will stop in all female colonies and pick up again roughly 3 days after a male is introduced (this is called the Whitten Effect). Sometimes females will also have odd cycles in the winter
Habitat
The house mouse is very social and lives in groups or colonies, much like people. The mouse is a commensal rodent, living at mans expense without contributing to the relationship. Mice live in territories marked by urine that can vary from 5 to 25 feet depending on available food and shelter. They will show aggression to strange mice that enter that territory. Nests are made of shredded paper, string, cloth, and insulation in wall voids, attics, under cabinets, in furniture, closets, etc. A mouse consumes 3 to 4 grams of food each day and can generally get enough water out of the food to survive if no water is present. Mice tend to come out of hiding when all activity quiets down. Mice have poor eye site (the three blind mice) and are color blind, but will memorize their territory so getting around is easy. They are excellent climbers and will use rope, telephone and computer wires to travel. Mice can jump up 12 inches and jump down 6 to 8 feet without injury. Mice also like investigating and exploring for opportunity anything new that is placed in their territory.
Inspection
Inspecting for mice starts with a good flashlight. Signs of mice include droppings, urine stains, rub marks, knaw marks, damaged products, and nesting material. Inspect under cabinets, behind refrigerator, inside closets, attic spaces, drop ceilings, crawl spaces, and foundation ledges. Checking around the outside of a dwelling is also very important. A mouse needs only ¼ inch of space to enter a structure. A garage door not sealed properly is a very common access way for mice to enter a home. Cable and air conditioning lines are sometimes not sealed after installation is complete. Broken windows and general bad property conditions can be all that a mouse needs to enter their new environment.
Sanitation
Sanitation is always a major part of pest elimination. The less food available to the mouse, the more likely they are to consume your baits, and hit your traps. The outside of a dwelling is where a problem begins. Garbage that is not kept in sealed disposal containers is the beginning to a rodent problem. Dog food left out daily will attract mice and rats as they hoard the food while the dog is asleep. Bird feeders that spill over will make any mouse smile. Any debris, wood piles, compost piles, high grass around property all create harborage for mice. Once the mouse is living on your property, curiosity and opportunity will lead them inside.
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