Mice
The house mouse
is omnivorous. Seeds are the preferred food but mice also like foods high in fat
and protein such as butter, bacon, meat and sweets. Mice feed at multiple sites,
often 20-30 different sites each day, taking a small amount of food at each. A
typical mouse will consume about 3 grams of food each day, about 10% of its body
weight. Mice prefer to live in buildings and other dry areas often close to
human food supplies.
The house mouse ranges in colour from brown to grey and measures from 11 - 15
cms in length. They have large ears, a pointed nose, small eyes, small feet,
sharp flat teeth and a long tail that is darker in colour than the body. The
faecal droppings of mice are typically 6mm long and pointed. An adult mouse will
weigh about 30g but can weigh up to 90g
There is a definite social ranking among mice that is linked to protection of
individual territories that are scent marked with urine. Subordinate mice tend
to feed and be sexually active when the dominant males are inactive, generally
during the day. Unrelated males are highly aggressive towards each other. Males
tend to have larger territories than females and each mouse will travel its
entire territory daily to investigate any changes that may have occurred.
Life-Cycle
Mice are prolific breeders and under ideal conditions a pair of mice could
produce 2500 mice in 1 year!. Sexual maturity is reached in 6-8 weeks and they
can have up to 5-8 litters per year. The litter size is between 4-16 young. It
is not unusual for a female to be lactating and, at the same time, be pregnant
with a new litter. The gestation period is 21 days. Pups are born bald, deaf and
blind. Their eyes open at around 3 days and they have fur by 10 days. House mice
have 5 pairs of nipples.
House Mouse Facts:
Mice do not have bladders, as a consequence they urinate anywhere at any time. They can
transmit Salmonella and other gastro diseases through their droppings and
urine.
Mice can jump a vertical distance of 30 cms.
Mice can enter a building through a hole as small as 6mm in diameter.
A mouse can out run a cat.
A mouse can last longer without water than a camel.
Mice will drink water if available but it can survive on food with a moisture content of 15%.
Advanced Rodent Control.