Mice

Posted in Rodents

Mice
The House Mouse really does not belong in the United States.   It is native to the dry grasslands of eastern Asia, but hundreds of years ago it hitchhiked aboard ships that transported it to America.  As an introduced species  now living where natural predators do not exist, the House Mouse flourished, competing with the existence of native animals in the process.Other mice you may be aware of  are the Meadow Mice (also called Voles) or Deer Mice. These usually stay outside the structure, but they too can cause some severe problems such as the Hunta Virus.   You easily can distinguish between these different kinds of mice by the following characteristics:  

  • Meadow Mouse – stocky build, short tail, ears are very furry
  • Deer Mouse – slender build, long hairy tail that is white on the bottom
  • House Mouse – slender, long bare tail, ears are almost bare of hairs, belly light colored

Here are some House Mouse characteristics to keep in mind:

  • It does not need to drink water – it can obtain all necessary moisture from its food
  • It can squeeze through openings only ¼” wide to gain access to structures
  • It climbs very well, can jump straight up about 18″, and can swim
  • It prefers to eat foods such as nuts, grains, or sweet things – it is NOT particularly fond of cheese
  • It is very curious, and will quickly investigate objects that are placed in its environment
  • It may not travel more than 10 feet away from its nest
  • It is nocturnal, meaning it much prefers to be active at night – it avoids open ar


 

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