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Description
The adult house mouse weighs about 30 grams and is about 90 mm long excluding its tail. It has brown fur on it's back and is grey underneath. It's ears are fairly large in relation to the body and it's feet are small. The tail is the same length as the head and body.
Mice can be confused with young rats but rats have smaller ears, larger feet and thick tails which are shorter than their body.
Mice are widely distributed throughout urban areas and in farm buildings. A variety of other mice, shrews, and small rodents may infest houses but are not usually a serious problem.
Lifestyle
The house mouse is the most common domestic pestand will nest in partitions, floors, and behind wall boarding. Mice are mainly active at night and occasionally during the day. If food is plentiful they usually range over a very small area. Mice are excellent climbers and can scale vertical brick walls. They are not dependent on having a source of water and usually obtain sufficient moisture from food.
The life expectancy of a mouse is a year. Females may breed up to six times (with an average litter of six) and start producing litters aged 2 months.
Significance
Mice, like rats, are a hazard to health. They can be responsible for the spread of disease. They eat food which may be intended for human consumption and contaminate with urine, droppings and fur. All contaminated food should be disposed of. Mice cause structural damage to properties by gnawing through woodwork, waterpipes, electric cables and household items.
Signs of Infestation
Look out for damage caused by gnawing, feeding holes, smears and droppings. Mice nibble from the centre of a grain, whilst rats often leave half grains or pieces of debris. Nest entrance holes are about 20mm (¾ inch) in diameter and appear in the ground, floors, walls and the base of doors. Foot prints may be evident in dusty environments. The amount of droppings present are an indication of the size of an infestation and how long it has been there.
Control
Mice are difficult to control because of their breeding rate and ability to colonise new areas. Ensure your premises are in good repair and no food is left around the house or garden and this will help prevent mice from being encouraged onto your property.
Poison bait can be bought from chemists, hardware shops, and garden centres. Bait must be made readily available to the mice, but not accessible to other animals or humans (particularly children). Poison bait packaging will have detailed instructions on use and safety precautions. You must follow these instructions.
The amount of bait and the frequency of topping up will be recommended on the product label. When the bait is not being taken any more it can be assumed that the infestation has been eradicated. All remaining bait should be removed and disposed of according to the manufacturers instructions.
Mice that have taken poison will return to their nest and die - it is possible that this may cause a smell. The duration of the smell depends upon how warm the nest is, but it usually goes after a short while. It is not recommended that attempts are made to find the nest - this is usually difficult. Mouse traps are an alternative to poison bait however, they have the disadvantage that trapped mice have to be disposed of and the trap reset. Repair of mouse damage is essential to prevent further infestations.
Elmbridge Borough Council provides a service for the treatment of mice. (Note: |a charge is made for this service)
If you would like to take advantage of our |Pest Control Service either: