Ag Line: Menacing mice
By Wade Parker County Extension Agent

House Mouse (Mus musculus)

Nobody likes to see that small mouse scurry through the house at a high rate of speed. As a whole, people don't like to talk about having mice or other rodent problems, but dealing with rodents is unfortunately part of life.

House mice are one of the most troublesome and economically important pests in the United States. Why are they in our homes to start with? Mice find their way through cracks and crevices in our homes to seek shelter from the cold and to consume food.

As they make their way in our homes, they consume food meant for human beings, pets and other animals. However, they contaminate areas with their feces and urine and can cause considerable damage to structures and property. Mice can spread numerous diseases in the process.

Mice are generalist feeders but prefer seeds and grain. They also love foods high in fats, sugar and proteins, like bacon, chocolate candies and butter.

Mice are nibblers and though they may eat only 3 grams of food a day, they destroy much more food than they consume. A single female may have up to five to ten litters a year, each litter having about five to six young. In other words, a single fertilized female can result in a large indoor population in a relatively short period of time.

Mice are found in virtually any sheltered location. Indoors, they may be in a hole in the woodwork, or beneath some protective cover. Outside, they may nest in animal burrows, in collected plant material or beneath debris. When mice are present in significant numbers, their infestation is announced by a musty odor.

The house mouse gnaws on electrical wiring and may cause fires or failures to appliances; it contaminates clothes, food, furniture and other items with droppings. The house mouse can also gnaw into wood and chew holes in furniture.

Now, let's discuss the control of the house mouse. The homeowner has a few options, including traps, poisons, or calling a licensed pest control company.

When populations are small, traps are the preferred method. They are less of a hazard for pets and children, and the mice can be removed promptly without the bad odor of animals dying in wall spaces and other inaccessible places. Either snap traps or sticky pads are available at most grocery stores. Baiting with bacon or peanut butter gives excellent results.

Once you find the places that mice have been traveling in your home, placing a sticky trap in their path will greatly help. These places are usually behind washer machines and refrigerators.

Extreme care should be taken when using poisons. These products can be fatal to other animals and children.

As you can see, fighting mice problems is a never ending process. Maybe adopting a cat and leaving him in the house will help!