Mice have been plaguing humans for about as long as humans have been around. They are notorious for infesting homes and buildings thanks to their ability to slip through the smallest of entry points. If you’re wondering why you keep getting mice, it’s often due to easy access to food, water, and shelter. Mice should be a concern for any property owner due to their capacity to spread disease and their destructive eating habits.
Do you think you have a mouse infestation? Call Ehrlich at 888-312-3219 to schedule a free inspection.
Mice are small mammals and part of the rodent family. Known for their sharp teeth and constant gnawing, they often cause damage by chewing through wires, furniture, and insulation. Mice are highly adaptable and commonly infest homes, garages, and businesses, especially when there is easy access to food, water, and warmth.
Because they breed quickly and often hide in hard-to-reach places, mice can be difficult to remove without professional help.
Mice can create several health risks inside homes or businesses. Their urine and droppings may contaminate surfaces, and nesting materials can affect air quality. In some cases, mice can spread bacteria or transmit diseases, such as salmonella and hantavirus, through droppings or saliva. Mice may also bring parasites like ticks or fleas inside, which can affect both people and pets.
Mice have small, slender bodies with large ears, pointed snouts, and long, thin tails. Most species are gray or light brown, with lighter undersides. Adults typically measure around 2.5 to 4 inches in body length, with tails of a similar size.
Clear signs for mouse identification include gnaw marks, droppings, small tracks, or runways along walls and baseboards.
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Read the key mouse information below to understand why mice can quickly become a problem for homes and businesses alike.
Mice breed rapidly. A single female can produce five to ten litters a year, with each litter containing up to 12 pups. Most young reach maturity in just six weeks, which means a small issue can quickly grow into a big infestation.
Mice will eat almost anything but are especially attracted to grains, seeds, and sweet or fatty foods. Their constant search for food often leads them to chew through packaging or wiring, creating potential health and fire hazards.
Mice prefer dark, quiet places with easy access to food and shelter. Indoors, this often includes wall voids, basements, and attics. They’re also drawn to damp areas and cluttered spots where they can hide and build nests.
Mice are active throughout the year, but infestations tend to increase during fall and winter. As temperatures drop, mice move indoors to find warmth and food. They’re mostly active at night, which can make them harder to detect.
In warmer months, mice may live outside in sheds or fields, but as it gets colder, they seek shelter indoors. Their behavior often changes with the seasons, depending on where they can find the most reliable sources of food and shelter.
Below are three of the most common species found in the U.S. We’ll look at how to identify the mice and highlight a few key facts about each species.
The house mouse (Mus musculus) is the most frequently found mouse in U.S. homes. They are small, grayish-brown in color, and can squeeze through holes as small as a quarter inch. They adapt well to indoor environments and often live near people.
The deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) has a white belly and feet, with a tail that’s darker on top and lighter underneath. These mice usually live outdoors in rural areas but will move indoors during colder months. This species is known to carry hantavirus, a rare but serious disease.
The white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) closely resembles the deer mouse but is more commonly found in wooded or suburban areas. These mice are skilled climbers and may enter attics or upper floors in search of shelter.
Our highly trained professionals don't stop at just setting some traps and then calling it a day. We offer mouse prevention services which include identifying access points and providing advice on sealing up those areas. We determine what it is about your property that mice are finding attractive and provide you with advice on how to deter mice and other rodents.
By helping you remove the things that are attracting mice, Ehrlich can stop mice from returning and doing further damage. Call Ehrlich today for an inspection with one of our trained professionals at 800-837-5520 or use our online form.
For over 85 years, Ehrlich has been the expert in mouse control. Getting rid of mice takes more than a few traps. We use our decades of experience to address the current infestation and the conditions that led to it. Our technicians identify and seal off entry points and apply proven solutions that deal with active infestations and help prevent mice from coming back.
Mice generally have a lifespan of up to around 18 months.
Mice can give birth when they are two months old and can have babies 6 to 10 times per year.
It depends on the species, but some mice can carry germs in their urine, which can cause illness and allergies. They can also spread disease through ticks, fleas, and mites. This is why professional mouse control is so important.
Yes - although it's fairly rare. Mice usually avoid people and will only bite if they feel cornered or threatened.
A 0.6cm gap is enough for a mouse. Proofing your home by sealing gaps plays a critical role in helping to deter mice and prevent a possible infestation.
You can try using traps and sealing small gaps to control mice, but these are often only short-term fixes. Mice breed quickly and can hide in hard-to-reach areas, making them difficult to remove completely.
For long-term results and to address the root cause of the infestation, it's best to contact professionals. Our mouse control services include finding entry points, removing the mice, and helping prevent them from coming back.
Generally, mice are omnivores. They will eat whatever they can find inside a home or building. In the wild, they will eat fruit, grains, seeds, and other vegetation. They have even been known to damage crops. Mice like food high in carbs and will eat meat, insects, and even other mice.
Mice will be active any time of day if their nests are disturbed. However, generally speaking, mice do prefer to do their busywork at night. They will search for food when the sun goes down and that is when homeowners are more likely to see them.
The most effective way to get rid of mice in your home is to contact a local mouse control technician at Ehrlich. While traps or DIY steps may help in the short term, they rarely solve the full problem.
Check out more of our mice resources to see how mice could be impacting you.
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