All About Mice: Pest Library

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Major Pest Control Pest Information Library. Helpful information on Mice in Canada And How To Control Mice.

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Mice: Description

Throughout Canada, many homes and structures are invaded by mice. Mice are carriers of disease and can damage property. Deer mice and house mice are the most common species of mice in Canada. The most common carrier of the deadly hantavirus is the deer mouse. Mice are 150 to 170 mm in length including the tail, are brown or tan in color, and have oversized ears and long tails. Deer mice coats are brown or gray with a white underbelly and feet. House mice have brown or gray fur, have lighter colored fur on the undersides of their bodies, and have pinkish-buff fur on their feet. The tails of house mice are about the same as their body length, while the tails of deer mice are shorter than their body length.

Mice are secretive and live in habitats that provide complete concealment. When outdoors, mice live in vegetation and underbrush of grassy fields and farmland. Mice often seek refuge in homes and other structures, from businesses, warehouses, and factories, to dog houses, sheds, garages, outbuildings, and yard decorations. In populated areas, mice live near food sources in areas with low threat of predation.

What do Mice eat?

Mice are omnivores (can eat nearly anything) including seeds, fruits, nuts, insects, and human derived foods, such as stored or discarded items. In addition to consuming foods, mice are widely known for chewing and biting through inedible items, such as papers, books, drywall, plastic, and soft metal like aluminum. Mice require multiple meals daily, with some species feeding up to 30 times in a single day.

Mice Life Cycle and Reproduction

Mice are mammals which means they give birth to live young after a gestation period of around 20 days. Mice litters have five to six pups. Female deer mice and house mice typically produce up to a dozen litters annually. Female pups reach sexual maturity after around one month, while male pups are sexually mature after two months. Early summer to late fall is the prime mating season when mice live outdoors. However, mice that live indoors may reproduce year round. Mice live up to one year.

MICE – Frequently Asked Questions & Concerns

Why do I have mice?

Homes and other structures provide many of the requirements mice have for living, such as food and water, warmth, and shelter from predators. They invade seeking these requirements, often in response to falling temperatures that signal the onset of winter. Once inside, mice build nests in undisturbed areas away from light, such as attics, pantries, and garages and within walls. Mice often seek out and invade stored food items within the home. House mice consume a wide variety of foods, such as fruits, nuts, seeds, insects, grains, discarded foods, and stored pantry items. Deer mice also consume many food sources, such as beetles, earthworms, snails, seeds, fruit, and fungi and are especially attracted to homes with large insect populations or easily raided pantry items.

How can I prevent mice from invading?

Regular and thorough cleaning and sanitation are essential to preventing mice infestations. Clean food preparation areas promptly after use. Make sure to clean up food crumbs and spilled liquids immediately. Remove unintentional sources of food for mice, such as bird feeders. Clean and sanitize trash cans regularly and keep them tightly covered. Trim vegetation away from the exterior of buildings. Caulk and seal cracks and crevices. Maintain major appliances such as HVAC units. Prevent standing water on the property. Keep doors and windows closed and sealed. Install weather strips around door and window perimeters.

Do mice hibernate?

Mice do not hibernate. Instead mice are less active during the winter, tending to stay in the nest to avoid low temperatures. Homes provide excellent refuge for mice, with plenty of warmth, food, and shelter. Mice prefer to nest in vents and other openings that provide access to basements and attics.

How do I tell the difference between deer mice and house mice?

Deer mice have brown or gray fur with white bellies and tail bottoms. A deer mouse’s tail is approximately the same length as its body. Deer mice have hind legs that are longer than the forelegs. Deer mice have larger eyes and ears as compared to house mice, which is often the most reliable method for differentiating between the two mice species. House mice typically have gray fur; some have brown shading along their backs or undersides. House mice are about 8 cm in length, have long tails that are partially covered in fur, and have short hind legs.

How Worried Should I be About mice?

Mice are carriers of disease and can damage property. In homes, mice contaminate living areas by depositing feces and urine and tracking around detritus. Deadly hantavirus, which causes a rare respiratory disease, can be carried and transmitted by deer mice saliva, urine, and feces. Hantavirus may be fatal in humans, and there is no known cure. Hantavirus may be spread as the result of tiny particles of deer mouse waste circulating in the air. Mice are known to contaminate ten times the amount of food relative to what they consume. This contamination allows for the transmission of diseases and parasites. One mouse-transmitted disease is salmonellosis which results in diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Parasites such as mites and fleas may also cause dermatitis.

Mice also destroy property by biting through or chewing on inedible materials such as books, plastics, aluminum, drywall, insulation, siding, and wallboard which may compromise the building’s structural integrity. The activities of mice creating nests and food caches may cause small openings in the structure to become progressively widened. Mice may also chew through electrical wiring causing a myriad of problems, from power outages to electrical fires, which are expensive to repair.

Businesses, such as restaurants, property management, and hotels, affected by mice infestations may face disastrous consequences. These establishments face ruined reputations in addition to extensive damage.

Homeowners may achieve temporary and sporadic control of mice infestations with the use of glue or snap traps. However, to achieve permanent and reliable eradication of mice, homeowners and businesses must employ the services of a trusted and reputable professional pest control company, like Major Pest Control.

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