| First the danger. Mice are more of a problem in
buildings because they live indoors. They are more liable to cause
fires by gnawing cables and they can damage insulation in animal
housing causing costly heat loss and expensive replacement.
Mice carry diseases such as salmonella and they can also transmit
a type of leptospirosis, but not Weil's disease. Their continual
dribble of urine contaminates food and feedstuffs. Mice are a particular
problem in poultry units and pig housing and a very real pest in
grain stores, warehouses, shops, hospitals and even domestic premises.
Being so small they are very easily carried, unnoticed, in egg
boxes, food packaging, laundry baskets, etc. Entering a new location
through gaps as small as 6mm, mice build nests which are hard to
find, populating an area with new colonies quickly with devastating
effect. Because mice can reach sexual maturity 42 days after birth,
populations grow much faster than those of rats, which take about
twice the time to reach maturity.
The difficulty of preventing access, coupled with the rapid population
growth and natural dispersal of mice, means that a large building
may contain a number of colonies.
Mus domesticus
Common Names: House mouse
Adult Weight: 15 grams
Length: (head + body): 60-90mm
Length: (tail): 80-100mm, usually longer than head and body.
Fur colour: Brownish grey. Lighter shades occur.
Ears, hearing: Large with some hairs. Excellent sense of hearing.
Eyes, sight: Small. Poor sight, colour blind.
Snout, smell and taste: Pointed. Excellent sense of smell and taste.
Droppings: Scattered. Rod shaped, 3-6mm long.
Habits, habitat: Sometimes burrows. Lives indoors and outdoors but
is almost unknown in sewers. Nests generally within stored materials
but may burrow. Climbs. Erratic in habit. Inquisitive towards new
objects. Range: 1.5-5 metres.
Feeding habits: Nibbles. Prefers cereals. Consumes 3 grams per day.
Unlike rats, mice can survive with very little water and often obtain
sufficient water in food without the need to drink.
Life cycle: Span: 9-12 months.
Sexual maturity: 6 weeks.
Litter size: 5-6 offspring.
Maximum reproduction rate: 8 litters per year.
Pest information supplied by Sorex.
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