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